The State Fire Marshal’s Office said that it has located human remains in the fire debris at a home on Russell Avenue in Auburn, the site of an armed standoff with police early Saturday morning. This is the same location where the 911 call originated that morning.
The deceased found in the fire debris will be formally identified by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner after testing.
The Red Cross said it has a team of 6 workers assisting 4 individuals impacted by the Auburn incident, but that number could rise. They are currently meeting with affected families to assess their needs.
At a news conference Saturday Auburn Police Deputy Chief Timothy Cougle described how 43-year-old Leein Hinkley initiated the violence that escalated quickly on Russell Avenue.
"At 12:57 this morning the Auburn Communications Center received a 911 call from a female on Russell Avenue reporting her significant other was in a fight with a subject trying to break into her residence with a gun," Cougle said.
Cougle said the woman fled the home, then it became engulfed in flames and Hinkley fired shots at officers from inside of it. Hinkley fled, fired at officers from a second home which also burned, and then hid on a flat rooftop nearby.
Colonel William Ross of the Maine State Police said Tactical Team Members shot and killed Hinkley, a man with a lengthy criminal history.
"He was released on bail on June 12th. He had been in custody on a Probation Violation, involving a 2011 conviction for crimes of domestic violence elevated aggravated assault as well as a recent arrest for a crime of domestic violence," Ross said. "Initially, he was held without bail. Over the objection of the District Attorney’s Office the court reduced his bail to $1,500, concurrent, with conditions, including house arrest at a residence in Lewiston."
According to the bail bond, Hinkley paid 1500 dollars in cash to be released. Conditions of release included that he remain confined at a home in Lewiston, and not have alcohol, illegal drugs, dangerous weapons or firearms. Hinkley could not contact the victim or go to Russell Avenue.
A published report in the Lewiston Sun Journal revealed that Hinkley pleaded guilty in 2012 to elevated aggravated assault after stabbing his former girlfriend and a good Samaritan who came to her aid. Hinkley was sentenced to 15 years in prison and six years of probation.
At the time of the sentencing, assistant District Attorney Nicholas Worden apologized to the victim whom he said "lives in constant fear," of Hinkley and who remained in the DA's office during the hearing instead of being in the courtroom.
Because of Hinkley's criminal history, including a conviction for domestic violence assault, Worden said the state had failed in its duty to protect her.
"How Mr. Hinkley was not identified as the ticking time bomb that he is," Worden said, "is regrettable. Someone in the court system should have been paying attention. We could have done better.”
*This story will be updated.