A picturesque coastal dispute in Maine has taken a sinister turn, with a New York couple facing serious criminal charges for allegedly poisoning their elderly neighbour's trees to safeguard their precious water vista.
Rockport residents, 75-year-old Susan Wellman and her son, returned from a brief trip to a horrifying discovery: nearly three dozen trees on their property were dead or dying. The serene woodland, which provided privacy and buffered against road noise, had been brutally attacked.
A Calculated Act of Arboreal Sabotage
The alleged perpetrators, identified as 49-year-old Amy Tapley and 42-year-old Arthur Coe III, are accused of a calculated act of environmental vandalism. Authorities claim the couple drilled holes into the base of at least 32 trees and injected a potent herbicide, specifically one containing the toxic chemical arsenic.
This wasn't a spontaneous act. The meticulous method suggests a premeditated effort to kill the trees without immediate detection, ensuring the Coes' panoramic view of Penobscot Bay remained unobstructed once the foliage died off.
The Devastating Impact and Legal Repercussions
The damage is both ecological and emotional. The loss of the mature trees, valued at thousands of dollars, has left the property exposed and diminished. For the elderly homeowner, it's a profound violation of her sanctuary.
Tapley and Coe now face severe legal consequences. Each has been charged with felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor charges of unlawful chemical use and criminal trespass. The felony charge alone carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Court documents reveal the couple initially denied any involvement. However, the evidence—including the specific herbicide used—reportedly links them directly to the crime. They were released on bail but are prohibited from any contact with the victims.
This case highlights the extreme lengths to which property disputes can escalate, turning neighbours into adversaries and resulting in serious criminal allegations that will now play out in a Maine courtroom.
