A Maine man has pleaded guilty to murdering his estranged wife in a brutal attack that prosecutors say was fueled by anger and heartbreak, and he’s now been sentenced to 45 years behind bars — a term that likely amounts to life.
David Gaudreau, 60, admitted to killing his 59-year-old wife, Dale Gaudreau, on May 28, 2024, just a week after she left him and began the process of legal separation. According to prosecutors, David followed Dale in his truck as she drove home from work, rammed her car off the road, and then opened fire, killing her instantly.
Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots around 7 p.m. that night. One resident initially mistook the sounds for fireworks before realizing he was hearing Dale’s screams. Another witness recalled seeing two vehicles speeding side by side, windows down, moments before hearing “about seven shots.”
After the killing, police say David called several family members to confess before turning himself in to authorities later that night. He was arrested and charged with murder.
During his first court appearance, David reportedly “sobbed” uncontrollably, at one point crying out, “What have I f—ing done?” Despite initially pleading not guilty, he reversed his plea and accepted a deal that sentenced him to 45 years in prison.
The fatal shooting stunned the small town of Peru, Maine, prompting school closures the following day as police investigated the crime scene.
Maybe he would get some common sense now