Police reports reveal clues on shootings; Gang planned Machias killing

The Lubec woman who was killed at Bailey's Mistake earlier this month had been dead for up to nearly three days in the locked trunk of her car before being found, according to a police affidavit. The body has now been positively identified by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as Eva Cox, 58. Her boyfriend, Paul DeForest, 65, was arrested on the charge of murder in Warrenton, Va. Following a court appearance on January 19, he waived extradition to Maine, and he is now being held without bail at the Washington County jail.
On January 10, police had received information about an altercation that happened at Cox's home at 69 Jim's Head Road on Bailey's Mistake and began a search of the property, leading to the discovery of Cox's body the next day. According to the police affidavit filed by Maine State Police Detective Lawrence Anderson, a New Hampshire man had been staying at the home with Cox and DeForest, having a room upstairs. On January 8, he had woken up in the evening to the sound of a "pop" coming from downstairs. When he came down, he allegedly saw Cox on the floor, with blood around her body, and a pistol on the counter near DeForest. He then packed his belongings upstairs and left for his home in New Hampshire, informing the police there about the incident on January 10 and telling them he had heard the couple bicker daily. A text message he received from DeForest on January 10 states, "If you are ever questioned about what happened Eva and I were fighting as usual over the house she asked you to leave and you did eventually you will have to return and all your tools as well as mine take care brother and thank you for everything."
Both the Washington County Sheriff's Office and Maine State Police searched the area around Cox's home on January 10, finding evidence of blood and a woman's earring near the house, along with fresh tire marks that were consistent with those of a tractor in a nearby barn. There was evidence of blood on the tractor and inside the tractor bucket. The following day, Cox's Chevy Malibu was located by police at an adjacent home at 65 Jim's Head Road, and her body was found in the trunk.
DeForest had most recently been working as a contractor on the former Ryerson and Lois Johnson house on School Street that is now owned by Wayne David Hand, and Cox was working there as a housekeeper.
Cox is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, three granddaughters and a grandson, five sisters and three brothers. For the past 19 years she had worked at Walmart, where she was often recognized for her customer service, loyalty and strong work ethic.