Man Arrested In Random Killing Of Beloved Maine Christmas Tree Farmer

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — Police in Maine arrested a 22-year-old man Tuesday in connection with the killing of a beloved local tree farmer that shook the community where he has been a fixture for decades.

James Pearson, 82, who was also a retired teacher, was killed in the front yard of his Scarborough home Sunday morning in an attack that police have described as random. Maine State Police announced Tuesday they have charged Quinton Hanna of Freeport with murder in connection with Pearson's killing.

The Portland Press Herald reports there is no indication Hanna and Pearson knew each other. Pearson's wife Nancy was home when the attack happened and tried to aid her husband while family members called 911. She and James founded their tree farming business in 1969.

Police said they previously took Hanna into custody Sunday and charged him with attempted murder following an attack on a woman in West Bath. He faces numerous other charges as well. It wasn't clear Tuesday if he had a lawyer.

The state medical examiner determined Pearson was stabbed to death. His death sent shock waves through the Scarborough community, where Pearson was a well known figure because of his years of selling Christmas trees. Scarborough Police Chief Robert Moulton described him as "one of our founding fathers" on Sunday.

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