Shawn Samuels, 24, of Orrington was arrested for Domestic Violence Elevated Agggravated Assault and two counts of Violation of Bail on Saturday, January 17, 2026 according to Shannon Moss, Public Information Officer, for the Maine Department of Public Safety, Augusta.

On the morning of Friday, January 16, 2026, the Penobscot Regional Communication Center received a 911 call reporting that a 12-week old infant had become unresponsive .  Members of the Orrington Fire and Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence to provide aid to the infant.  The infant, identified as Lyla Samuels was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.  Due to the facts and circumstances of the case the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit- North was called in to investigate.

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Detectives learned that the 12-week-old-infant had died.  An autopsy was performed the following day.  The cause of death is tentative pending final testing.  The manner of death was ruled homocide.  After tje autopsy, Shawn Samuels was arrested for murder at the Penobscot County Jail where he remains in custody.

Anyone with relevent information related to this case should please call 207 – 973-3700 ext. 9 and ask to speak with Det. Dana Austin.