ALFRED — There was a history of domestic violence in the Old Orchard Beach home that Derek Poulin shared with his father and grandmother, according to a police affidavit.

Poulin, 23, was charged on Saturday with murder and arson in relation to the death of his grandmother, 61-year-old Patricia Noel. Noel was found dead at her home at 44 Wesley Ave. in Old Orchard Beach on Oct. 23 after firefighters went to the home to extinguish a fire.

Poulin made his first court appearance Tuesday morning at York County Superior Court.

Poulin, wearing an oversize white shirt and baggy jeans, stood quietly, mostly obscured from view beside his lawyer, Robert LeBrasseur. Poulin did not enter a plea Tuesday, and Justice Paul Fritzsche went over the charges against Poulin, stating that if convicted, a murder charge carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison, and arson carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Poulin is being held without bail at York County Jail.

Firefighters responded to the fire at 44 Wesley Ave. just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23. The fire was confined to the back bedroom on the first floor of the two-bedroom, two-story home, where Noel’s body was found.

A fire investigator believed the slow, smoldering fire could have been set as many as two to three hours prior to discovery and no later than 1 p.m., according to an affidavit written by Maine State Police Detective Scott Harakles.

Noel’s body was found on the floor at the foot of the bed in the bedroom and partially into the adjoining bathroom, with a small pool of reddish brown liquid near her head, according to the affidavit. A police investigator said there was no sign of smoke inhalation, which was evidence that she was not alive at the time of the fire, according to Harakles.

The state medical examiner’s office concluded that Noel died from multiple blunt impact injuries to the head, various skull fractures and multiple stab wounds, according to the affidavit.

Police found a golf club handle and shaft, a detached golf club head, a wrench and a knife with an approximately 3-inch blade in the shower adjoining the bedroom where Noel’s body was found, and DNA that matched Noel’s profile was found on the wrench, according to the affidavit. There were reddish-brown stains from the kitchen to the bathroom and the bedroom where Noel’s body was located, according to Harakles.

Neither Poulin, nor his father, Reginald “Reggie” Poulin, who both lived at 44 Wesley Ave., were home when firefighters arrived. It was confirmed that Reginald Poulin was at work at his job at a lawn care company.

Derek Poulin’s mother, Cathleen Emery, first saw her son at her home at Brighton Avenue in Portland at 2:45 p.m. that day, according to the affidavit. It was confirmed that he was at the Portland motor vehicle office shortly after, and then at a thrift store.

Harakles said blood on Poulin’s boots matched the DNA profile of Noel, in his affidavit. Blood was found on the emergency brake pedal of Poulin’s car; a book of matches with several matches missing was found inside his cup holder; and a golf club was found in the trunk, the affidavit states.

Poulin told police that there was a history of domestic violence in the home and verbal altercations between his father and grandmother. The last incident, two to three weeks before the fire, occurred because his grandmother was upset that he had been drinking, according to the affidavit.

Poulin told police he rarely left home and his daily activities consisted of smoking cigarettes and marijuana, watching television and playing video games.

When a police investigator offered Derek Poulin condolences about the loss of his grandmother, Poulin replied, “I don’t even know what to say about that, I almost threw up.” He later said he was angry because he had no place to live, according to Harakles.

Two handwritten notes, located near a purse on the kitchen table, were found by investigators describing physical and emotional abuse from Derek Poulin toward Noel, which investigators believe were written by Noel. Five similar letters ripped up into pieces were found in a trash can in the home, according to the affidavit.

Poulin’s aunt told police that Noel had told her the week before her death that Derek Poulin had been disrespectful toward her, calling her names, blowing cigarette smoke in her face and getting physical with her, and she had slapped her grandson across the face in an altercation, according to Harakles.

The incidents were identical to those Noel had written about in notes that were found on the scene, according to the affidavit.

Noel had complained to Poulin’s aunt about her grandson’s unemployment and lack of motivation and was upset that he didn’t contribute to the household, Harakles said.

LeBrasseur said Tuesday after the court appearance that Poulin’s family is standing behind him and his father “supports him 100 percent.” LeBrasseur described Poulin as “heartbroken,” having lost his grandmother and now being accused of misconduct.

“It’s really torn him up,” he said.

LeBrasseur said Poulin has no previous criminal record.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.