Suspect in Christmas stabbings held on $25G bail

Alton Britch (York County Jail photo)

SPRINGVALE, Maine - The man police say walked into the home of distant relatives who lives on West Lebanon Road and stabbed three family members late Christmas night is being held on high bail after his arraignment in Springvale District Court on Monday.

Alton Britch, 44, of Wheelock, Vt., was arraigned by video with bail set at $25,000 cash.

Britch is charged with elevated aggravated assault, which could draw a prison term of up to 30 years.

Britch allegedly walked into the home of his cousin, 58-year-old Beverly Duquette of 188 West Lebanon Road a little before 10 p.m. Christmas night, and stabbed her grandson, 18-year old Dominic Small, three times in the back.

Britch also stabbed Duquette's husband, Randall, 54, and her daughter, 39-year-old Anna Malinowski.

During an ensuing struggle police say Britch was hit over the head with a frying pan and subdued. Police say he was being held down when they arrived.

Scene of the stabbing Christmas night at 188 West Lebanon Road in Lebanon. (Lebanon Voice photo).

The three were treated for what were described as nonlife-threatening injuries and were treated and released from Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Maine State Trooper James MacDonald said on Saturday that family members said they had no idea why Britch had stopped by and that it had been more than two years since they had seen him.

The knife was recovered at the scene, MacDonald said.

A neighbor, who didn't want to have his name used, said the night of the stabbings he saw police interviewing a man who "seemed to be out of it" out on the street for several minutes.

"He didn't seem coherent," the neighbor said.

Police are still investigating the incident as they search for a motive in the case.

A possible date for Britch's next court appearance was not available from Springvale District Court late Monday.