CUSHING —State Police have charged a Tenants Harbor man in connection with a homicide on Far Meadow Lane in Cushing Thursday night.

Andrew Kierstead, 40, has been charged in the killing of 48-year-old Richard Mills. Mills lived on Far Meadow Lane and Kierstead was taken into custody by Knox County deputies after they were called to scene around 8 p.m., according to Maine State Police spokesman Steve McCausland.

Kierstead is currently being held for evaluation at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, according to McCausland. Kierstead has been charged with murder.

State police said at 10:20 p.m. Thursday that they were investigating an apparent shooting death in Cushing and the shooting took place at a home on Far Meadow Lane.  Far Meadow Lane is located off Route 97 (Cushing Road), between Spearmill Road and Cross Road.

State Police detectives worked through the night with deputies from the Knox Sheriff’s Office, who first responded to the scene. Evidence was collected, the scene was processed and interviews were conducted overnight, according to McCausland early Friday morning. An autopsy of Mills' body, which is at the state Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta, is scheduled for later in the morning to determine manner and cause of death.

Penobscot Bay Pilot Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@PenBayPilot.com; 706-6657.
Penobscot Bay Pilot Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@PenBayPilot.com; 706-6655.