A Bath man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he murdered his mother in May.
Jason Ibarra Two Bridges Regional Jail
Jason Ibarra was arraigned via teleconference on Wednesday at West Bath District Court.
Ibarra had been staying with his mother, Jeanine Ross, at her apartment at 125 Congress Ave. following a stint in prison for misdemeanor assault and criminal threatening, according to court records.
Ibarra’s brother Shane Ross told police that Ibarra sounded depressed and intoxicated during a phone call just before 11:30 a.m. on May 24, according to court documents.
Documents indicate that after initially evading his brother’s questioning, Ibarra admitted to killing his mother, at which point Shane Ross called 911.
According to a police affidavit, Ibarra surrendered to Bath police that morning repeating, “I killed my mother.”
A Bath Police officer allegedly found Ibarra visibly intoxicated to the point he struggled to stand upright, and stated, “I did not mean to kill her,” according to the affidavit.
Officer Brett McIntire searched Janine Ross’ apartment and found her body in a bedroom with a cloth around her neck.
Ibarra was arrested and charged with depraved and indifference murder.
Murder in Maine is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between 25 years and life.
Bail was set at $100,000 cash, and Cpl. Aaron Smith on Wednesday confirmed Ibarra is still being held at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
No family members except Ibarra were present at the arraignment.
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