BELFAST — A tentative date for the murder trial of Matthew Pendleton has been set for Feb. 8, 2024, by Justice Robert Murray, who is hearing the case.

Matthew Pendleton, 48, stands accused of the Jan. 5, murder of his former roommate and friend, Kevin Curit, 47.

Curit was found deceased the morning of Jan. 6, though Pendleton wasn’t arrested until Jan. 9, when an autopsy confirmed Curit died as a result of homicide.

Detective Corporal Christopher Crawford, of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit filed the affidavit Jan. 9. 

According to the affidavit, it was Matthew Pendleton who called police on the morning of Jan. 6, reporting a deceased man at a residence in Lincolnville. The Waldo County Sheriff’s Department initially responded to the call, before requesting assistance from MSP. Crawford states that he arrived at the scene at noon, meeting with the deputy on scene. The deputy reportedly stated that Pendleton told him the following:

“Kevin Curit was his friend who lives at the residence with him. Kevin was a heavy drinker and last night was very intoxicated.” 

Pendleton said he left the residence to go to a store and that when he returned, he discovered that Curit had, “destroyed his house and set off a fire extinguisher in the residence because he set his hair on fire trying to light a cigarette,” according to Crawford’s report. 

Pendleton reportedly told the deputy that there was a lot of blood because Curit had fallen several times, cutting a hematoma that was on his ear. Pendleton then stated that he told Curit to go sleep in the camper because he was destroying the house.

Pendleton reportedly found Curit deceased the next morning around 5:30 a.m., though he did not call 911 until approximately 9:30 a.m. According to the report, Pendleton called several other people before alerting police.. The deputy reported that after this statement, Pendleton said he no longer wanted to talk without an attorney present. 

When Crawford spoke with Pendleton, he reportedly said that he wanted to cooperate and just wanted some time. A business card was provided by Crawford in case Pendleton wanted to reach out in the future. Pendleton reportedly shared additional information about the early morning hours, saying that he set up a heater for Curit in the camper, but that Curit left the camper multiple times to sit on the stairs of the house. Pendleton reportedly said each time he returned Curit to the camper. The choice not to call 911 immediately was due to Pendleton being scared, and wishing, “this all had not occurred.”

An autopsy was completed Jan. 7, with the determined cause of death to be “ligature strangulation along with blunt force trauma (homicide).” 

Matthew Pendleton was located Jan. 7, on Hope Road in Lincolnville, allegedly hiding in the woods. Pendleton was arrested for murder and invoked his right to remain silent. 

Pendleton is next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 18, at 8:30 a.m. for a status conference. If the case goes to trial, the date has been tentatively set for Feb. 8, 2024, continuing as needed, through Feb. 16. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com