Full Breakdown
New Hampshire Man Charged in 1993 Kittery Murder After Decades-Long Investigation
6/6/2026, 1:15:37 AM
The Arrest and Charges
On June 4 2026, Maine State Police, assisted by Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery law-enforcement, arrested 59-year-old Daniel Jolly of Portsmouth on a murder warrant for the 1993 killing of 73-year-old Maxine Bitomski. Jolly was taken to the Rockingham County Jail in Brentwood, New Hampshire, where he will remain pending extradition to Maine.
Cold-Case Background
Bitomski, a widow of former Portsmouth Naval Shipyard fire chief Rudolph Bitomski, lived alone at 3 Colonial Road in Kittery. On the afternoon of Jan. 16 1993, her grandson discovered her nude body in the bathtub after a broken front-door pane was noted the previous morning. An autopsy the next day ruled the death a homicide, but the cause of death has remained sealed.
Investigation Timeline
- 1993 – Initial investigation by Kittery Police and Maine medical examiner; case classified as unsolved.
- 2001 – Family publicly criticized law enforcement for limited communication.
- 2013 – Daniel Jolly arrested on unrelated vandalism and assault charges.
- 2021 – Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit reopened the case, applying modern DNA analysis.
- Jan 2022 – Press conference with Bitomski’s grandchildren highlighted renewed progress.
- June 4 2026 – Jolly arrested and charged.
Evidence and Forensic Advances
Detectives re-examined physical evidence, including footprints in the snow, broken glass, and a plastic bag found in 1994 containing personal items marked with Bitomski’s name. Advances in DNA testing applied to the original evidence linked Jolly, who had supplied oxygen equipment to Bitomski through his employment with Medical Market, a Portsmouth-based medical-supply firm.
Family and Community Response
Bitomski’s granddaughter, Candus Cavaretta, recalled being the last person to speak with her grandmother on Jan. 15 1993 and expressed enduring grief. Grandson George White described the perpetrator as “a monster and a coward.” The community has been urged to provide any additional information to Maine State Police Sgt. Justin Huntley (207-624-7076, opt 9).
Official Statements & Responses
Maine State Police Lt. Tom Pickering said the arrest “reflects the determination and commitment of investigators who never stopped working this case.” He added that “the work completed by current and retired Maine State Police detectives, members of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory and the Kittery Police Department over the past 33 years was instrumental.” Portsmouth Police Sgt. Kevin McCarthy noted the department’s cooperation, stating they were “happy to help our partners and effectuate this arrest when they asked for our assistance.” State police continue to treat the investigation as active.
Criticism & Opposition
Family members have previously criticized law enforcement for delayed communication after the 1993 discovery, noting that a neighbor observed the open door but no police were called. Sgt. Michael Harriman, speaking in 1993, explained the decision to withhold the cause of death: “It’s to our benefit to not disclose the cause of death…Only one other person knows, and that’s the murderer.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The official cause of death remains sealed, and no public autopsy details have been released. While DNA evidence linked Jolly, the precise manner of Bitomski’s injuries—bruises on hands, wrists, and chin—has not been publicly clarified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This arrest reflects the determination and commitment of investigators who never stopped working this case,” — Lt. Tom Pickering, Maine State Police
- “The individual who broke into her home that evening and murdered a 73-year-old defenseless woman is a monster and a coward, and needs to be held accountable for what happened,” — George White, grandson
- “We loved her more than words can ever express and it is hard to describe just how much she meant to each of us,” — Candus Cavaretta, granddaughter
- “At this time we’re referring all comments to the Maine State Police and the Maine attorney general’s office, but we were happy to help our partners and effectuate this arrest when they asked for our assistance,” — Sgt. Kevin McCarthy, Portsmouth Police
- “It’s to our benefit to not disclose the cause of death. … Only one other person knows, and that’s the murderer,” — Sgt. Michael Harriman, Maine State Police (1993)
What’s Next
Jolly will face a murder trial in Maine after extradition. Investigators continue to seek additional witnesses or forensic leads, and the sealed autopsy report may be released once court proceedings permit. The case remains one of two active cold-case homicides in Kittery.
