Episode 135: Matthew Cushing
42-year-old Christopher Bolduc, 42-year-old Carol Bolduc and their son, 15-year-old Joshua Bolduc
22-year-old Matthew Cushing
On February 20th, 2008, at 5:42 p.m, dispatch received a call of smoke and a possible fire at a home in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Police arrived on scene at 15 Birkdale Circle and saw smoke coming from the home, and the fire department then arrived and secured the scene. Upon their entry into the home, they found the bodies of three people. They were identified as 42-year-old Christopher Bolduc, 42-year-old Carol Bolduc and 15-year-old Joshua Bolduc.
Several hours later at 8:23 p.m, Fire Marshal Sr. Investigator Daniel Young interviewed a man named William Huntington. He told the fire marshal that he was working at Blustery Day Flags store in Old Orchard Beach that afternoon with Christopher and Carol. Carol had left the store at 2:15 to go home and be with the couple’s son Joshua. Between 2:35 and 2:40, Christopher received a call from Carol, who told him that she saw a car belonging to 21-year-old Matthew Cushing parked at a nearby dog park. Matthew was Carol’s biological son and lived at the home when he was back from the University of Maine at Orono, where he went to college.
At 3:30, Christopher tried to call Joshua and Carol but no one answered. He then left the store to head home and check on them. William told Christopher that if he didn’t hear from him in an hour he would call the police. William not only worked for the family but was also a personal friend, and he told the fire marshal that Matthew had recently gotten into a fight with his parents because they wouldn’t pay for him to go backpacking across Europe with one of his friends and told him to instead focus on school.
William also said that Christopher Bolduc was gay and was planning on divorcing his wife and moving to South Carolina to live with another man. Matthew had been angry at this and was also worried that his mother wouldn’t be able to support herself after the divorce. Tensions were running high and William was concerned.
At 10:40 p.m, Old Town Maine police arrived at the home of some relatives Matthew was staying at and asked him to come down to the station for questioning. At the same time that police arrived at Matthew’s home, Dr. Meg DeWitt from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner arrived at the scene and determined that the three victims had died of homicide.
During his police interview, police asked Matthew about multiple cuts on his hands. Matthew reported that these were from him cutting a thick piece of steak. He told police that earlier that day he was walking around campus and was feeling very emotional and depressed. He had been having a hard time since his dog was hit by a car shortly after Christmas, and he had been thinking about his biological father Paul Cushing. Matthew said he had gotten in his car and began driving up to Paul’s house to confront him, but before he could get there he pulled over on the side of the road and cried. He then drove back to Old Town and got home between 7:00 and 7:15pm, maintaining throughout his conversation with police that he was not in Old Orchard Beach at all that day.
Matthew said that the last time he saw any of his family members in person was over the semester break back in mid-January. Police asked him if he drove his mom’s car, a silver 2003 Toyota 4Runner, and he said that he only drove it one time last year. Carol’s Toyota 4Runner was found on the day of the fire parked on Staples Street, just 300 feet away from where Carol had seen Matthew’s car, a Ford Taurus. Carol’s car was towed to the police station. When police examined the Toyota, they found red and brown stains on the steering wheel and shifter. The blood later came back matching Matthew’s DNA.
Two days later, Fire Marshal Investigator Christopher Stanford announced that he had determined that there were two separate points where the fire started: one in the kitchen where Christopher Bolduc's body was found and one in the first floor hallway and basement stairs area. Both fires were set with an ignitable liquid and were clearly intentional. A melted red plastic gas can was found in the kitchen along with two cell phones and a lighter. There was a digital camera left on the kitchen counter.
Matthew was re-interviewed on Friday, February 22nd at the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. This is when he admitted to murdering his mother, his stepdad Christopher and his half brother Joshua. He then admitted to setting the house on fire after he murdered his family. Matthew’s backpack had also been searched and inside was a stun gun and a knife covered in blood. He was arrested and charged with arson and three counts of first-degree murder.
Matthew had gone into the home and had argued with Joshua, stabbing him multiple times when he was hesitant about helping Matthew talk to Christopher. When Carol arrived and threatened to call police, he choked her before stabbing her as well. He waited for Christopher to come home before using the stun gun on him and fatally stabbing him as well. Matthew also stabbed the family dog.
During the sentencing hearing at York County Superior Court in Alfred, Maine, multiple relatives of Carol, Christopher and Josh gave statements about how the murders have affected them. The hearing was very emotional and family members expressed to the judge that they felt that Matthew should be sentenced accordingly for the murders. Kathy Prior, Matthew’s aunt and Carol’s sister, stated “No matter how much time passes, our hearts will never be whole.”
Justice Paul Fritzsche said that he had never previously administered a life sentence, which in Maine has no chance for parole. On March 31st, 2009, Matthew Cushing was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his mother, stepfather and stepbrother, plus 20 years for the arson charges.
At the hearing, Matthew described his mom, stepfather and stepbrother “in loving terms” and said that he hates himself for what he did, stating “The world today is a worse place because they are not in it. From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry.” He remains in prison.
Image sources:
murderpedia.org - “Matthew Paul Cushing”