Det. Barry Shuman arson/murder investigation   2-24-1981 - 3-11-1981

During Shuman’s 1981 arson/murder investigation he typed up 16 statements in his words of what he claims was told to him. Four people were interviewed twice. Norman Herrin said his statement was an extract from his lost fire report and two vital statements were missing from his report. This makes 11 statements taken with 2 missing.      The statements start on the 24th of February (the day Mike was found) and end on March 11th—a two week period. Mike was murdered in Hancock County, but the investigation was conducted in Penobscot County, DA Cox’s jurisdiction.      Six of the statements were done at the Bangor Police Department, one at Penobscot County District Attorney’s David Cox’s office, two were done at the Penobscot County Jail and two were not turned over in discovery. Not one statement was done in Hancock County—the county where Mike was murdered—or at the Maine State Police Barracks.  The statements were taken in Penobscot County, DA David Cox's jurisdiction, county where drug sting occurred. Statements taken by Shuman: 1. 2/24/81 Norman Herrin—Lucerne Fire Chief—Extract from Herrin's missing fire report 2. 2/24/81 Linda Gray—Mike’s girlfriend—Bangor PD—Penobscot County 3. 2/24/81 David Dupray—Co-owner of cottage—Arrested in 2/18/81 DEA drug sting—Bangor PD—Penobscot County 4. 2/25/81 Robert Rideout —Police informant—Bangor PD—Penobscot County—interviewed 3 times 5. 2/25/81 Joann Johnson—Called in fire alarm—Residence 6. 2/27/81 Carla Phair—Lionel Cormier’s girlfriend—DA Cox’s office—Penobscot County. 7. 3/03/81 Paul Pollard—Man seen fleeing arson/murder scene, wiping hands—Penobscot County Jail. 8. 3/03/81 Carla Phair—2nd interview—By Trooper Ronald Graves—Not listed in Shuman’s report—Bangor PD—Penobscot County 9. 3/3/81 Linda Gray—Mike’s girlfriend—Bangor PD—Penobscot County 10. 3/04/81 Mark Ashe—Pollard claims he hid in Ashe’s garage—By Cpl. Barry Shuman—not turned over in discovery 11. 3/04/81 John Clark—Pollard claims he used the Clark phone—By Cpl. Barry Shuman—not turned over in discovery 112. 3/05/81 Paul Pollard—2nd interview—No place given (But records show Pollard was in Penobscot county jail) 13. 3/06/81 David Dupray—2nd interview—No place given 114. 3/10/81 Roger Johnson—Arrested Dec. 5, 1984 for murder/arson—Bangor PD—Penobscot County 15. 3/11/81 Richard Sargent—Arrested Dec. 5, 1984 for murder/arson —Shuman’s cruiser  16. 3/11/81 Heidi Chabot—Richard Sargent’s girlfriend—Residence Not one of the interviews had been recorded during Shuman's 1981 so-called murder investigation. The statements were in Shuman’s words of what he said had been told to him with information learned in the present, past, and future, along with notes added by the detective—easy to manipulate in my belief.      The homicide detectives had never contacted our family to give information or ask a single question. The only contact was when Shuman arrived at Derald's work place to request Mike’s dental records the day after Mike was found and never came back.      By the time I learned that Mike was murdered, Shuman and Pinkham were done taking statements. 'The statements end on March 11, 1981.      Assisting Maine State Police Detective Cpl. Shuman in his two week investigation were MSP Trooper Ronald Graves, Det. Ralph Pinkham, Shuman’s supervisor, and Bangor Police Lt. Roger Bryce.