Man indicted on murder charge in Waterville death

AUGUSTA — A Kennebec County grand jury has indicted a Waterville man in the murder of another man on Aug. 18 at 119 Cool St. in Waterville.

Thomas Lowrie

Thomas Lowrie, 41, has been indicted on a charge of intentional or knowing or depraved indifference murder in the death of Charles Bellows, 43, also of Waterville.

Police said the alleged murder occurred at Lowrie’s home.

Lowrie was arrested Aug. 18.

An autopsy by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined Bellows died of sharp force injuries, with his manner of death listed as homicide.

A longtime friend of Bellows said Bellows had been staying at Lowrie’s home, which Lowrie had rented for about six month.

Lowrie is being held at the Kennebec County Correctional Facility in Augusta. His case has yet to be scheduled for trial.

The indictment, issued last month, states, “Thomas Lowrie did intentionally or knowingly cause the death of another human being, namely Charles Bellows, or did engage in conduct that manifested a depraved indifference to the value of human life and which in fact caused the death of Charles Bellows.”

The property where the death was reported is at the busy intersection of Cool Street and Kennedy Memorial Drive, just west of Messalonskee Stream and across from the CVS pharmacy at 1 Kennedy Memorial Drive.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but indicates enough evidence exists for a case to move toward trial.

Jeff Douglas of Fairfield, who said he was a friend of Bellows since childhood, said Bellows was married with three children, but Bellows’ wife was not with him when the killing occurred.

Douglas said his friend was struggling with alcohol and sometimes other drug abuse, but was trying hard to get sober for his children. He said Bellows was a talented musician, singer and rapper, a great storyteller and loyal friend.

According to a state criminal records check, Lowrie’s history with police includes a domestic assault charge in 2017, assault in 2015 and a charge of operating under the influence, all misdemeanor-level offenses.