A Maine man with the same name as the man who allegedly shot and killed a sheriff's deputy in Maine says the manhunt for the suspect has been a nightmare.
John Williams, a 74-year-old from Madison, Maine, has received phone calls and threatening Facebook messages.
"People wantin' to put a couple bullets in my head. And, you know, I was a cop murderer," Williams says.
He has lived in the area his entire life and does not know the 29-year-old suspect who shares his name.
The suspect, who is also named John Williams and from Madison, allegedly gunned down Somerset County Sheriff's Deputy Cpl. Eugene Cole between 1 and 2 a.m. Wednesday on Route 2 in Norridgewock. Williams then allegedly stole Cole's marked cruiser and robbed a Cumberland Farms store on Waterville Road. He was last seen fleeing the store in the stolen cruiser.
The cruiser was found abandoned around 5 a.m. off of Martin Road in Norridgewock. Police believe he fled on foot and has been at large ever since.
Williams is described as 5-foot-6, 120 pounds with blue eyes. His hair is brown and unkempt, and he has a full beard. He was last seen wearing a black beanie hat, a dark-colored zip-up jacket, gray pants and tan boots. His last known address is 16 Jones St. in Madison, and he has ties to both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Local
In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area.
The FBI is offering up to a $20,000 reward for information leading to Williams' arrest.