Sousa was first reported missing by a friend on Tuesday. Lovejoy’s brother and Sousa’s other friends told Waterville police soon after that they were concerned for her safety. Lovejoy had been abusive to Sousa and threatened to kill her in the past, they said.

Sousa’s friends also showed police a video clip in which Lovejoy can be heard threatening to kill her, accompanied by a noise like firearm being racked back, according to the affidavit.

Police found Lovejoy at his house on Gold Street in Waterville on Tuesday while investigating the missing person’s report filed for Sousa, but he refused to let them into the basement or watch surveillance camera footage. He told them that Sousa had dropped their kids off at the nearby bus stop that morning and left.

When detectives gained access to Lovejoy’s apartment to retrieve Sousa’s children after his arrest they found a towel, black coveralls, a pair of tan work boots and a roll of duct tape with reddish brown stains. There was a bottle of ammonia in the bathroom — which had recently been cleaned. A detective observed similar stains on Lovejoy’s pants and socks while interviewing him.

Lovejoy told police on Wednesday that Sousa had attempted to push him down the stairs and shoot him unsuccessfully. He then ran to the living room, grabbed a loaded handgun from a bookshelf and shot Sousa twice in the stomach, according to the court documents.

Lovejoy admitted to rolling her body up in a tarp, sealing it with duct tape, then storing it in the Gold Street apartment’s basement.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.