BDN photo/ Anthony Brino Robert Craig, the Florida man accused of killing 86-year-old Leo Corriveau in Presque Isle, made his initial court appearance Aug. 5 in Aroostook County Superior Court in Caribou.
Craig, 80, of Clearwater, Florida, appeared before Justice Harold Stewart II via video link from the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton, where he is being held after he waived extradition from Florida. The appearance was largely an informational proceeding to set schedules in the case and inform Craig of his legal rights, the judge told Craig.
Craig entered no plea to a charge of intentional murder, which carries a prison sentence of 25 years to life. Stewart said the grand jury would be producing an indictment “within the next two months,” and an arraignment date was tentatively set for Dec. 19.
The defendant is being held without bail at the moment, but a Harnish hearing will be scheduled later to determine whether Craig will be allowed bail pending trial.
On Monday, he was appointed lawyers Steven Smith of Augusta and Christopher Coleman of Presque Isle.
Craig was arrested Thursday, July 28, near his home in the Clearwater mobile home community, where Corriveau also spent his winters, and he was previously held at the Pinellas County Jail on a fugitive from justice charge.
Craig and Corriveau knew each other for about four years, and the two came to Maine to stay at Corriveau’s Presque Isle home on July 12, according to an affidavit filed in Presque Isle District Court.
It was common for “Corriveau to bring someone with him to Maine” from Florida, though Corriveau told a relative he did not want Craig staying with him anymore, according to the affidavit written by Maine State Police Sgt. Darrin Crane.
Craig allegedly killed the 86-year-old on July 21 at Corriveau’s Presque Isle home on Route 1, fled with about $400 and Corriveau’s red Buick Enclave SUV to Hermon, then took a bus back to Florida.
An autopsy by the state medical examiner determined Corriveau was strangled, suffered broken ribs and cuts on his arm and head, and likely died at least 40 hours before his body was found in his backyard. The affidavit does not specify a motive for the slaying.
