To appear in Maine court Jan. 31

Massachusetts man indicted on three counts following lake death of Kristen McKellar

Mon, 01/14/2019 - 4:15pm

    WISCASSET — On Aug, 2, 2018, Camden resident Kristen McKellar was swimming in Damariscotta Lake when she was struck by a powerboat and killed. Five months later, on January 7-8, 2019, Jonathan D. Roberts, 45, of Waban, Massachusetts, was indicted by a Lincoln County Grand Jury on three charges and then arrested in Massachusetts.

    He is to appear in Maine court for his initial hearing on Jan. 31, according to Natasha Irving, District Attorney for Maine Court District 6 (Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties).

    “Jonathan Roberts was indicted for 1) Manslaughter; 2) Reckless Operation of a Watercraft; and 3) Operating a Watercraft at an Imprudent Speed by a grand jury on Jan. 8 in Lincoln County,” said Irving.  “He was arrested on a warrant in Massachusetts, has been released from custody in Massachusetts on bail, and has an arraignment on Jan. 31 in Lincoln County Superior Court.”

    He was arrested Jan. 11 and subsequently released on $1,500 cash bail.

    Kristen A. McKellar, 32, had been swimming with a friend when, at approximately 8:45 p.m., she was struck by the motorboat that Roberts had allegedly been operating.

    The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine Warden Service, Jefferson Fire and Rescue, and Waldoboro EMS all responded to the incident. 


    Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657