Maine Man Charged in Murder of Lacey Tidswell

A man has been charged in the death of 23-year-old Lacey Tidswell, whose body was found inside a burned home in Mexico, Maine, on September 26th.

According to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety's Shannon Moss, 23-year-old Elijah Cowper, of Mexico (Maine), was arrested and charged with arson and murder on Friday.  At the time of his arrest, Cowper was being held at the York County Jail on an unrelated charge.

Police have yet to release additional details about the alleged killing.

He is expected to make an initial court appearance at 3 PM this afternoon.

*NOTE: All suspects are considered innocent until being found guilty in a court of law

As we previously reported, at about 7 AM on September 26th, Oxford County Dispatch received a report of a fire at 5 Tucker Street in Mexico.  Upon arrival, firefighters found the house on fire, primarily in the area of the front porch.  Firefighters were able to rescue one female from the residence using a ladder. She was not injured.

After the fire had been extinguished, first responders found the body of a female inside the home.

The body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta.  An autopsy confirmed the identity of the deceased as Lacey Tidswell and determined the manner and cause of death.