In early September, the lifeless body of a woman from Maine was discovered on the roadside, leading to the subsequent arrest of Gary Mariner, 65, on a murder charge linked to the death of Danielle Goodwin, 52, as per a statement from the Maine State Police on November 4 in Saco, Maine.
According to the South Portland Police Department's statement, Goodwin's body was found on September 5 near the sidewalk close to Home Depot in South Portland. While the cause of death remains undisclosed, authorities have confirmed the incident to be a homicide.
Despite assuming control of the investigation, the Maine State Police have not disclosed any potential motives for the crime or further details regarding Goodwin's death.
As reported by the Portland Press Herald, Mariner had previously been convicted in 2017 of gross sexual assault while posing as a law enforcement officer.
He received a 12-year sentence with four years suspended, reportedly using his deceased father's police badge to coerce a sex worker into non-consensual intercourse. His father, Herbert Mariner, had previously served as a police chief in Cape Elizabeth.
Mariner's status as a registered sex offender for life is documented on the Maine Sex Offender Registry website.
Recognized within the local community for her dedication as a drug and alcohol counselor, Goodwin was known to be a generous individual, as described by her friends to the Portland Press Herald. Despite her personal struggles with addiction, she actively worked towards maintaining sobriety.
Mariner appeared in York County Superior Court on Monday, as reported by the Portland Press Herald, where he did not enter a plea. It remains unclear whether he has secured legal representation to advocate on his behalf.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.
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