More than 33 years after the homicide of 73-year-old Maxine Bitomski in her Kittery home, Maine State Police announced the arrest of a New Hampshire man on Thursday, June 4.
Bitomski was found deceased inside her residence at 3 Colonial Road by family members on January 16, 1993. Kittery Police Department officers responded, and the case was quickly referred to the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit. An autopsy performed the following day by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta determined the manner of death to be homicide. The specific cause of death has not been publicly released pending the unsealing of court documents.
Long Investigation Leads to Breakthrough
Jolly knew Bitomski through his employment with Medical Market, a Portsmouth-based medical supply company that provided oxygen equipment and services to her prior to her death. Detectives from the Kittery Police Department and Maine State Police pursued the case for decades.In 2021, the investigation was re-examined by detectives assigned to the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-South. Advances in DNA testing, combined with continued review of evidence and pursuit of leads, ultimately linked Jolly to the crime.
Lt.Tom Pickering, who oversees the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Unsolved, said:
This arrest reflects the determination and commitment of investigators who never stopped working this case. The work completed by current and retired Maine State Police Detectives, members of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory, and the Kittery Police Department over the past 33 years was instrumental in bringing this case to this point.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to the death of Maxine Bitomski is asked to contact Major Crimes Unit Sgt. Justin Huntley at (207) 624-7076 (option 9).
This arrest marks a significant resolution in one of Maine’s long-standing cold cases.
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