The Greenbush man who took his own life after kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and killing 20-year-old Blake Mishou had a history of assault and domestic violence.

Eric Niles, 19, of Alton had been released on $200 bail just four days before he confronted his ex-girlfriend Kristin Cates, 18, and Mishou in the bedroom of a home in Bradley, according to police.

The two were in the bedroom together at the Bradley home of Cates’ mother and stepfather, Jill and Randall Rand, when Niles entered the room during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 20, Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland said.

The state medical examiners office ruled Tuesday that Mishou’s death was a homicide and confirmed that he had been killed by a gunshot wound to the head. Police say his death came at the hands of Niles, who shot Mishou before kidnapping Cates in a pickup he had stolen from his grandfather.

Cates didn’t want to speak to the media about her ordeal, but her father, Scott Cates, said his daughter had not been physically hurt in last weekend’s incident.

“Emotionally, she’s got a long road ahead of her,” he said Tuesday.

In March, Cates filed domestic assault charges against Niles and had taken out an order of protection against him that forbid him from contacting her or entering any residence she occupied.

Police reports state that at the time the two were preparing lunch at Cates’ apartment in Old Town when Cates made a comment to Niles about him not doing anything and that he should get a job.

“Niles became upset and kicked Cates in the butt,” the report states. “Cates said she threw a pepper shaker at Niles and he punched her in the arm.”

Cates then called police because Niles allegedly had assaulted her in the past, once resulting in a black eye, she told police.

As soon as Cates made the call, Niles left the apartment. He later was found on Bodwell Street on nearby French Island and was arrested for domestic assault.

At the time, Niles was on probation for obstructing the report of a crime in September 2007, according to information about his record available online through the Maine State Bureau of Identification. Details about the obstruction charge weren’t immediately available Tuesday, but Niles was sentenced in January 2008 to one year of probation and counseling. Among other provisions of the sentence, he was to avoid any criminal conduct and remain in the state during the probation period.

On April 11, Old Town police Sgt. Scott Casey went to Cates’ apartment to serve her a subpoena to testify against Niles on the March domestic assault charges. Casey heard Cates talking to someone inside the apartment when he arrived and heard her use the name “Eric.”

Niles was able to flee, according to police reports, and the officer told Cates that if she didn’t cooperate and tell them when Niles tried to contact her, charges could be filed against her. The next day, two undercover officers spotted Niles in a car with Cates and reported what they had seen.

When Niles showed up at 3rd District Court in Bangor for the March assault charge, to which he pleaded not guilty, he was arrested for violating his bail conditions and contacting Cates.

He again posted bail and was released. Four days later, he killed Mishou and kidnapped Cates.

Niles was scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. May 27 at 3rd District Court in Bangor.

Niles and Cates reached Connecticut before being spotted in the stolen truck just before 6 p.m. Sunday on southbound Interstate 95.

When a Connecticut state trooper tried to pull the vehicle over, Niles, who was in the passenger seat, shot himself in the head. Niles died of his injuries Monday morning. An autopsy on Niles hadn’t been completed Tuesday afternoon, according to the Connecticut medical examiner’s office.

adolloff@bangordailynews.net

990-8130