SKOWHEGAN — A Somerset County grand jury has indicted a Moscow man, charging him with manslaughter and criminal speed following his involvement last year in an automobile crash in which two women died, according to court records.
Eric Tankerley, 34, was indicted by the grand jury last month on two counts of manslaughter, two counts of aggravated criminal operating under the influence, criminal speed and driving to endanger.
Tankerley is facing charges that would hold him responsible for a car accident last May on Route 201 in Caratunk in which Jordan Merchant, 25, of Eastbrook and Lindsey Walsh, 28, of Lakeville, Massachusetts, were killed.
The women were friends of Tankerley. On the day of the accident, they had all been at a local swimming hole in The Forks and were headed to Moscow to watch a hockey game, Somerset County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Mike Mitchell said at the time.
Mitchell said Merchant was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze in an area where the posted speed limit is 55 mph. Tankerley reportedly tried to pass the vehicle in his 2019 Ram pickup truck. Mitchell said both vehicles began speeding up, and it appears Merchant’s car made slight contact with Tankerley’s truck, which spun her vehicle out of control and onto the left side of the road. The accident happened at about 5 p.m., according to officials.
According to the indictment, Tankerley had been driving about 100 mph and was found to be intoxicated. Merchant and Walsh were not wearing seat belts, Mitchell said last year, but Tankerley and his passenger were wearing seat belts and were not hurt.
The women were pronounced dead at the scene. Several law enforcement agencies responded to the crash, which occurred at about 5 p.m.
Caratunk is in Somerset County, about 40 miles northwest of Skowhegan.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but indicates enough evidence exists for a case to move forward to trial.
The grand jury also indicted:
• Orin J. Stevens, 68, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking and home repair fraud, between July 14, 2021, and Dec. 8, 2022, in Canaan; theft by unauthorized taking and home repair fraud, between Apr. 18 and Dec. 13, in Skowhegan.
• Hiedi Anne Harrington, 49, of Cornville, eluding an officer, aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, criminal operating under the influence, operating after revocation and driving to endanger, Oct. 12, in Skowhegan.
• Shania Tripp, 25, of St. Albans, three counts of unauthorized possession of scheduled drugs, improper plates and violating condition of release, May 9, in Skowhegan.
• Kimberley R. Brown, 50, of Madison, violating condition of release, July 17, in Madison; domestic violence assault, May 7, in Madison.
• Charles R. Nickerson III, 31, of Madison, domestic violence assault, May 2, in Solon; domestic violence assault, between June 1 and 30, 2020, in Madison; two counts of domestic violence assault, between Sept. 1 and 30, 2020, in Madison; domestic violence stalking, between June 1, 2020, and May 2, in Madison.
• Elizabeth A. Padham, 60, of Mercer, hindering apprehension or prosecution, March 2, in Mercer.
• Ervin W. Morrison III, 30, of Fairfield, theft by deception and negotiating a worthless instrument, Sept. 2, 2021, in Norridgewock.
• Barry Thomas Wheaton II, 58, of Smithfield, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, March 3, in Smithfield.
• Christopher S. Groves, 28, of Benton, violating condition of release and domestic violence criminal threatening, June 5, in Fairfield.
• Elizabeth Mosher, 35, of Skowhegan, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and two counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, Feb. 24, in Skowhegan.
• Everett J. Reichert, 64, of Oakland, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and violating condition of release, May 9, in Skowhegan.
• Sharon L. Pelletier, 47, of Skowhegan, theft by deception and forgery, Dec. 21, in Skowhegan.
• Dante D. Susinetti, 41, of Waterville, aggravated criminal mischief, Dec. 22, in Skowhegan.
• Kaleem Russell, 28, of New York, New York, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, March 6, in Pittsfield; two counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, March 6, 2022, in Pittsfield.
• Robert L. Stilphen, 41, no residence listed, two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, two counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and violating condition of release, Nov. 14, in Pittsfield.
• Cindy L. Petterson, 47, of North Anson, operating after revocation and violating condition of release, June 2, in Fairfield; failing to report and violating condition of release, Sept. 30, in Madison.
• Leslie W. Ridley, 41, of Norridgewock, aggravated assault, domestic violence terrorizing and violating condition of release, Feb. 24, in Madison.
• Xavier John Pelkey, 19, of Waterville, aggravated assault, Jan. 6, in Madison.
• Dustin A. Cayford, 32, of Harpswell, domestic violence terrorizing and violating condition of release, March 19, in Skowhegan.
• Jerry Michael Libby, 35, of Skowhegan, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, April 7, in Skowhegan.
• Yordany Torres-Lara, 18, of Boston, Massachusetts, three counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, Feb. 24, in Skowhegan; criminal forfeiture, unknown date, in Skowhegan.
• Luis Bernardez-Jordan, 18, of Boston, Massachusetts, three counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and criminal forfeiture, Feb. 24, in Skowhegan.
• Mindy LaCasse, 36, of Skowhegan, forgery and theft by deception, Dec. 30, 2020, in Skowhegan.
• Izaiah Perkins, 23, of Madison, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and violating condition of release, July 7, in Madison; receiving stolen property, March 7, in Madison.
• Joshua D. Wheaton, 37, of Norridgewock, aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and criminal forfeiture, March 15, in Norridgewock.
• Jordan C. Dennis, 38, of Hartland, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, theft by unauthorized taking, operating after suspension and violating condition of release, March 28, in St. Albans; aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and two counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, March 29, in Madison.
• Jamie Witt, 30, of Skowhegan, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, Jan. 4, in Skowhegan.
• Michael Corson, 54, of Madison, four counts of theft by misapplication of property, between March 23 and Oct. 21, 2021, in Anson.
• Nicholas R. Foss, 37, of Madison, theft by unauthorized taking, forgery and violating condition of release, Nov. 13, in Madison.
• Michael Welcome, 22, of Madison, eluding an officer, criminal operating under the influence, violating condition of release and operating after suspension, June 8, in Madison.
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