AUGUSTA – The death of Jessica Nichols, 22, of Waldoboro was determined to be a homicide caused by multiple sharp-force and blunt-force injuries, a spokesperson at the state medical examiner’s office said Monday.

The state’s evidence corroborates the confession made by Steven Pomeroy, 23, the Hope man charged with murdering Nichols on July 2. According to court documents, Pomeroy told police he lost his temper over a comment she made about his ex-fiancee and he bludgeoned and stabbed her.

Pomeroy made his initial appearance Thursday, July 3, at Knox County Superior Court in connection with Nichols’ death. Pomeroy stood before District Judge Joseph Field, who formally charged him with murder and ordered him held until a bail hearing July 11.

Pomeroy remains in the Knox County Jail.

According to a court affidavit, Pomeroy told police last Wednesday morning that he and Nichols had been “drinking and fooling around” at his residence at 30 Pearse Road in Hope. When she made a comment about his ex-fiancee, Pomeroy lost his temper and killed Nichols, according to a statement of probable cause submitted by Detective Scott A. Bryant of the Maine State Police criminal investigation division.

Pomeroy told police that sometime Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning he hit his victim over the head with a frying pan and stabbed her repeatedly.

The medical examiner ruled the time of death to be 8:25 a.m. July 2, when her body was found, the spokesperson said.

According to police, after cleaning up the blood in his apartment, Pomeroy placed Nichols’ body in the trunk of his car. He told police the knife he used in the stabbing had been left in his kitchen sink.

He drove the car with Nichols’ body in the trunk to the home of William and June Brown in Hope. William Brown and Pomeroy were friends.

At 8 a.m. Wednesday, a 911 call was made to the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. State Police Trooper Jeremiah Wesbrock of Troop D Barracks in Thomaston said he heard the radio transmission of the call and went to the scene. Wesbrock and Knox County deputies found Nichols’ body in the car trunk.

Pomeroy was arrested at the scene.

Anyone with information about the case may call Lt. Gary Wright of the Maine State Police criminal investigation division at 800-452-4664.

gchappell@bangordailynews.net

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