The Belfast man charged with killing his wife in Readfield this week will undergo a competency review before his criminal proceedings continue.
Samuel Whittemore, 34, made his initial court appearance Friday afternoon at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta via videoconference from the nearby Kennebec County Jail.
But Superior Court Justice Daniel Mitchell announced at the start of the hearing that Whittemore required an evaluation of his competency and would not be making a formal appearance until the review was completed. Whittemore did not make any plea or speak during the hearing, instead letting his attorney do so.
A competency review generally evaluates whether a criminal suspect is mentally to fit to go ahead with criminal proceedings.
On Thursday, Maine State Police charged Samuel Whittemore with killing his wife, 32-year Margaux Whittemore, while the couple was visiting his parents at their home in Readfield. Her body was found outside the home on Giles Road on Wednesday morning and a medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.
After his arrest, Samuel Whittemore was initially taken to Maine General Medical Center in Augusta, then brought to the Kennebec County Jail, where he will stay without bail pending the competency evaluation.
Police also found 67-year-old Dorothy Whittemore, Samuel’s mother, injured inside the home, where she lived with his father, Henry Whittemore. She was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with critical injuries but her health has been improving, police have said.
Little other information was immediately available about the case. Police have not shared the manner of her death, and the arrest affidavit for Whittemore is currently impounded, according to a court clerk.
According to the couple’s social media accounts, Samuel Whittemore spent his adult life working in several high profile engineering jobs, including for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, while Margaux Whittemore spent part of her life in France and worked in marketing. The two also traveled extensively.
It’s not clear when or how they ended up living in the midcoast.
