November 22, 2024
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Charges against Orrington man upped to attempted murder

BANGOR – The Orrington man who allegedly stabbed his estranged wife and another person before turning the knife on himself Sunday morning is expected to make his first appearance before a judge today.

Ryan Witmer, 32, will be charged with attempted murder, according to Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy.

A time for the court hearing has not been set.

Witmer was released Tuesday from Eastern Maine Medical Center and moved to Penobscot County Jail, Almy said.

He is being held on $250,000 cash bail.

One of his alleged victims remains in serious condition at EMMC, according to Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Troy Morton. Witmer’s estranged wife, Leigh Witmer, 26, of Orrington, was treated and released Sunday.

He and his wife are separated, according to Morton. Leigh Witmer had a protection order out against her husband at the time of the attack.

Police officials declined to release the relationship of the third person to the Witmers or the location of the stabbing.

Witmer originally was charged with elevated aggravated assault, criminal threatening, burglary, assault on an officer, violation of a protection order and other minor charges.

Almy said the charges were upgraded to attempted murder due to the severity of the attack.

If convicted on that charge, Witmer faces up to 30 years in prison.

jharrison@bangordailynews.net

990-8207


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