Maine Mass Shooter Likely Alive for 8 to 12 Hours Before Found; Autopsy Reveals Death as Suicide
Medical examiner's report indicates shooter was likely alive for majority of two-day manhunt; specifics of death timeline complicated by shooter's 'empty heart sign' condition post-gunshot.
- Robert R. Card II, responsible for killing 18 people in two mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, is believed to have committed suicide 8-12 hours before his body was discovered, suggesting he was alive during the majority of the two-day manhunt.
- Card, a 40-year old Army reservist, exhibited signs of erratic behavior months prior to the shootings, believing people, including members of his reserve unit, were calling him a pedophile.
- He targeted businesses he believed were spreading false accusations against him, striking at the Just-In-Time bowling alley and Schemengees Bar & Grille.
- The autopsy indicated 'empty heart sign,' a condition where the heart empties itself of blood post-trauma, which complicated determination of death timeline.
- These horrific events caused thousands in the region to shelter in place, sparked a massive search effort, and ended in Card's body being located at a recycling center near where he abandoned his car.