Makayla Rose Desantis, 23, was fatally shot at the condominium she shared with her boyfriend in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, on the evening of March 8, 2026. First responders transported her to MaineHealth Franklin Hospital, and she was then airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she died. Initial court filings say she suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

The investigation quickly focused on her boyfriend, 24-year-old Austin Doucette. He was taken into custody by the Maine State Police in nearby Kingfield on the evening of March 9 and has been charged with murder. A 911 call from the scene included Doucette in a hysterical state; during the call he reportedly said he couldn’t believe he did this, though he later asserted the shooting was an accident. The couple had been together for nearly eight years.

Makayla was from Colchester, Connecticut, and worked at the Sugarloaf ski resort alongside Doucette. Her family described her as kind, creative, and devoted to those she loved, noting her baking, crafting, and painting. Anyone with information about Makayla, the shooting, or the days leading up to March 8 is asked to come forward.