ROCKLAND — A Tenants Harbor man accused of murdering Richard "Rick" Mills in Cushing, Sept. 27 allegedly told a 911 operator and investigators that he shot Mills over a $250 debt for drugs.

Andrew Kierstead, of Tenants Harbor, made his first appearance in Knox County Superior Court Monday afternoon. Kierstead, 40, has been charged with murder and District Court Justice Susan Sparaco ordered he be held without bail, pending a harnish hearing Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.

A harnish hearing is often held in major crime cases and its purpose is to argue whether the accused should be denied bail based on the severity of the crime, and other factors.

According to an affidavit filed Monday by Maine State Police Sgt. Jason Richards, Kierstead called 911 at 7:58 p.m., Sept. 27. A Knox County Communications Center dispatcher took the call, which was recorded and the caller identified himself as Kierstead. According to the affidavit, Kierstead told the dispatcher he had "just shot and killed a friend of his."

Kierstead allegedly told the dispatcher the two men argued and Kierstead shot Mills with a 12-gauge shotgun that was in his truck, but that the weapon was now on a table inside the home. When the dispatcher asked Kierstead what the fight was about, he allegedly told her "it was over the "f--- drugs and s---" and that he owed Mills $250.

"Kierstead stated that he couldn't take it anymore and he was broke and didn't have any money," said the affidavit. He said that Mills just kept feeding him all kinds of drugs."

When asked how long it had been since the shooting occurred, Kierstead allegedly said it happened "earlier" and that he tried to take an overdose of pills that Mills had, but that he woke up and "couldn't believe it and it was like a nightmare that wouldn't stop."

Later that night, State Police detectives interviewed Kierstead at the Rockland Police Department, according to the affidavit. Kierstead allegedly told the detectives that he was hooked on percocet, Vicodin, methadone and other pills.

According to the affidavit, Kierstead said: "he had been getting the drugs from Mills for 10-15 years. He blamed Mills for getting him hooked and that Mills was his only supplier for the most part."

Kierstead told the detectives he was an unemployed carpenter and had no money.

"He stated Mills fronted him $250 worth of pills," the affidavit said. "Mills would not give him any more pills because he owed him $250. They argued and Kierstead got Mills to go outside and help him with a noise in his truck under the hood. While Mills was looking under the hood, Kierstead got a 12-gauge shotgun from the front seat and pointed it at Mills. He told detectives that the shotgun was loaded with slugs and he had fired it before. He told them that he normally keeps the shotgun in the truck and he has been sleeping with it."

While pointing the gun at Mills, Kierstead told the detectives Mills told him to "put it away before someone got hurt." He then told them that he fired the shotgun at Mills.

The affidavit said: "He pumped another round in and kept firing. He said he did not know how many shots he fired. He told them after he shot Mills he went inside the house and took pills with the intent to overdose."

Instead, Kierstead told them he woke up, hoped it had been a dream and when he went outside and saw Mills, he called 911.

At the scene, detectives located Mills' body outside of the residence next to a shed. According to the affidavit, Mills had "obvious gunshot wounds to the front of his body by a large caliber firearm."

Five 12-gauge casings were located near the aforementioned pickup truck, four being 12 gauge slugs and one a No. 8 birdshot.

Inside the residence, detectives located an empty methadone pill bottle, an empty hydrocodone pill bottle, a hydrocodone bottle containing four tables, a hydrocodone bottle containing 27 tablets, a 12-gauge Stevens model 350 pump shotgun and a suicide note.

An autopsy of the body determined that Mills was shot four times in the front of the body with 12-gauge slugs and once in the right buttocks with birdshot.

During Monday's court appearance, attorney Steven Peterson, of Rockport, was standing with Kierstead, acting as lawyer for the day. Peterson told the court that Kierstead would likely be filing paperwork requesting a court-appointed lawyer prior to the Oct. 9 harnish hearing.

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email  at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.