Prentiss man, 48, indicted in killing

BANGOR – The Prentiss man accused of shooting his friend in the back of the head while high on cocaine was indicted Wednesday by the Penobscot County grand jury for intentional or knowing murder.

Joseph Dumas, 48, is being held without bail at the Penobscot County Jail.

If convicted, Dumas faces 25 years to life in prison.

Dumas is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, Jan. 3, in Penobscot County Superior Court.

He is charged with murdering his friend, 70-year-old Mario “Sonny” Litterio of Prentiss, near some camps on Tar Ridge Road in Prentiss where Dumas was working on Nov. 8.

Litterio’s death was discovered Nov. 9 when Dumas was treated at Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln for minor injuries after a car accident, according to court documents. He allegedly told a radiology technician that he was going to prison because he had shot and killed someone.

Dumas also allegedly told Maine State Police detectives where to find Litterio’s body. Following a map drawn by the defendant, investigators on Nov. 10 found the victim’s remains easily, according to testimony at Dumas’ bail hearing last month.

Maine State Police Detective Brian Strout testified at the hearing that Dumas sat at his kitchen table two days after the murder and explained how he had raised a .38-caliber revolver that belonged to Litterio and shot his friend in the back of the head.

“He was very emotional and broke down,” the detective said of his conversation with Dumas. “He said he didn’t know why he did that to [his] friend.”

Judy Harrison may be reached at jharrison@bangordailynews.net or 990-8207.