Charges brought in case of stolen donation bins for family of slain Waterville woman

WATERVILLE — A Winslow man has been charged in connection with the theft of donation bins from city Dunkin’ shops meant to help the family of a woman who was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend last month, police said.

Christopher Hodges, 31, was suspected of stealing the donation bins after police obtained surveillance footage from the Dunkin’ on Main Street, where Melissa Sousa worked, and on College Avenue in Waterville, according to Deputy Chief Bill Bonney of the Waterville Police Department.

“The indications for the theft seem to just be for the money and nothing personal,” Bonney said.

The body of Melissa Sousa, 29, was found Oct. 23 in the basement of her apartment building at 32 Gold St. in Waterville after she was reported missing by friends and family the day before.

Sousa lived in the apartment with her boyfriend, Nicholas Lovejoy, 28, and their 8-year-old twin daughters. Lovejoy was later charged with murder after Sousa’s body was discovered by authorities.

The donation canisters at the Dunkin’ shops were to help with funeral and other expenses related to Sousa’s twin girls, who were initially in state Department of Health and Human Services foster care until decisions are made about where they will live.

Waterville police Sgt. Joshua Woods said in an earlier report that an employee at the College Avenue location saw a man grab the canister and run off with it Oct. 27. Officer Nathan Bernier responded to that location and then went to the Main Street Dunkin’ to warn employees there about the theft. Bernier was told someone already had stolen a donation canister from there, according to Woods.

After Hodges was arrested on a probation hold by his probation officer Nov. 7, Waterville Police questioned him at the Kennebec County Correctional Facility in Augusta and later charged him Nov. 9 with two Class E misdemeanor counts of theft.

A Class E theft charge involves $1,000 or less.

Bonney said he wasn’t sure the total amount of money involved in the thefts.

Hodges has a court date set for Dec. 17.

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