3 Family Members Charged With Murder Of Maine Child

The mother, father, and grandmother of a 10-year-old child who died at a Bangor hospital earlier this month will face murder charges.

The boy's mother, Jem Bean, 35; father, Joshua Smith, 33; and paternal grandmother, Mistie Latourette, 56, were charged with Depraved Indifference Murder on Wednesday.

Det. Lt. Brent Beaulieu of the Bangor Police Department says the Bangor Police Department and the Department of Health and Human Services were called to investigate on Sunday, February 18, after a 10-year-old boy ended up at a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, and subsequently died, despite the best efforts of medical personnel at the establishment.

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The young boy's body was then taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta who ruled the boy's death a Homicide. After the Maine Attorney General's Office got involved, and the Bangor PD continued to look into the matter, warrants for three of the boy's family members were issued.

All three were taken to the Penobscot County Jail. They are expected to make an initial court appearance on Friday.

Det. Lt. Beaulieu says no further details will be released, including the circumstances surrounding the child's death, as the investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone with any information regarding the situation is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigation Division Bangor Police Department at 947-7384 ext. 5703.