Bangor Man Indicted for Murder Found Drinking Near Victim’s Body

A Bangor man has been indicted for murder for the death of his friend on Union Street.

Bangor Man Faces Charges for a Homicide on Union Street in December 2024

Gary Brinson, 70, of Bangor was arrested in December and charged with murder for the death of Lee Ruona, 64, also of Bangor. This week, he was indicted by a Penobscot County Grand Jury for the same charge.

The victim was found deceased in an apartment at 288 Union Street in Bangor on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. The two men both lived in the building, in separate apartments, and officials say they were friends who often spent time together.

Accused Murderer Says He and the Victim Were Friends

Both of the men were combat veterans and Brinson told investigators that they two often drank together to forget their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He told authorities that the day before Ruona died, they had been drinking heavily. Brinson said they argued but, when Ruona left his apartment, he was alive.

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WABI-TV reports Brinson's story changed during the investigation and he told the police that the two had argued over Brinson's pocket knives. He said he slapped the victim but doesn't remember anything after that.

Brinson Was Found Sitting Near the Body

On the day Ruona was found deceased, court documents state that Brinson was found drinking and watching TV next to the victim's body.

Gary Brinson remains incarcerated at the Penobscot County Jail, awaiting his next court appearance which has not yet been scheduled.