ALFRED — The woman police believe was stabbed to death by her grandson wrote in a letter the month of her death that the grandson needed to move out.
Derek Poulin, 26, is currently on trial for arson and intentional, knowing or depraved indifference murder. He has been accused of stabbing and beating his grandmother, Patricia Noel, to death and setting her Old Orchard Beach home on fire on Oct. 23, 2012.
Poulin and his father both lived in the home with Noel, but were not at home when firefighters broke in to the house and found Noel’s body.
State investigators gave testimony Tuesday on evidence found at Noel’s home and Poulin’s car.
John Hainey, who was a state police detective assigned to the case, said a letter written by Noel, found on the dining room table of Noel’s home and dated October of 2012, stated that Poulin “better find” a new place to live.
Last week, Deanne Frith, the wife of Noel’s cousin and a friend of Noel, testified that she had spoken on the phone with Noel in October of 2012 telling her she needed to use some “tough love” and give Poulin a date to leave the home.
Poulin’s trial continues today at York County Superior Court.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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