Levern A. Bernie Kelley, 53, was found dead in her home on Genthner Road in Waldoboro, Maine, on the morning of Saturday, August 9, 2025. Family concern began when she failed to report to her long-time job at Pen Bay Hospital and a 911 well-being check at about 8:25 a.m. led Waldoboro Police and Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies to her residence. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central took over the investigation and the Office of Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide; authorities did not release the specific cause as the inquiry continued.

Kelley was remembered as a warm, loving and generous mother of two daughters and grandmother to three grandsons. Investigators named 49-year-old James Clark of Damariscotta as a suspect and said he fled Maine after Kelley’s death. An arrest warrant charging Clark with murder was issued on August 15, 2025, and detectives located him in the South Daytona area. He was arrested without incident at about 6:40 p.m. at the Red Carpet Inn by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and was being held in Florida awaiting extradition to Maine.

If anyone knew Kelley, Clark, or was in the Waldoboro area around August 8–9 and has information, please come forward.