The March 16 fire that leveled the residence at 69 Pleasant Street in Lubec was preceded the same night by a violent knife attack inside that residence. The house, formerly the home of the late Dale Leighton, was occupied at the time by Richard Munson, 51, who found himself the victim of multiple stab wounds in the face and back, allegedly by Kenneth Kudrick, while he slept.
      After fighting off the assailant, Munson called his sister, Lubec Town Administrator Suzette Francis, who then called 911 for assistance at 10:18 p.m. on March 15. By the time a Downeast EMS team arrived, the alleged assailant had fled the scene, and Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies then began a search for him, including using a K 9 team. After several hours of searching, they were unable to locate Kudrick.
      During the investigation deputies learned that Kudrick was currently on eight different sets of bail conditions from Androscoggin County spanning from February 2024 to the most recent in late February 2025 as a result of misdemeanor and felony level charges. A temporary warrant was issued alerting statewide agencies for the arrest of Kudrick for aggravated assault.
      Following Munson's arrival at Down East Community Hospital in Machias, he was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. He has subsequently been discharged and is residing locally.
      While Munson was in Bangor, the house caught fire during the early morning hours. Neighbors called the fire department, and firefighters from Lubec, Whiting and Campobello responded. As late as 10:30 that morning firefighters were concerned that they didn't know whether there was someone in the house. The structure was fully engulfed at that time, filling the neighborhood with dense acrid clouds and forcing Versant Power to disconnect much of the town from electrical service. The State Fire Marshal's Office was called to investigate.
      Munson identified Kudrick, 30, as the suspect in the knife attack. According to Francis, they had become acquainted several years earlier in Bangor, when Kudrick approached Munson seeking a handout. Since that time, she says, Kudrick would "come and go." Munson, says Francis, had extended many courtesies to Kudrick, who is reportedly a talented pianist.
      By early morning on March 16 Kudrick had gone into hiding. He was later believed to have been inside a house trailer parked alongside Washington Street. Deputies continued to search for Kudrick, and shortly before 3 p.m. they took him into custody without incident after locating him walking along Water Street.
      Francis states that she believes that Kudrick suffers from mental health issues. She also points out that the residence was "in disrepair," a comment mirrored by neighbors who said it was falling down. The building had formerly been a funeral home.
      At his arraignment in Machias District Court on March 17, Kudrick was charged with elevated aggravated assault, Class A; reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, Class C; Class D assault; and violation of conditions of release. The latter charge stems from the earlier and unrelated events in Androscoggin County. He is being held at the Washington County Jail, with bail set at $5,000. According to a release from the sheriff's office, the investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely.
      As Munson lost all of his belongings, including clothing, in the fire the Lubec Community Outreach Center has stepped up to assist, along with the Red Cross.