The remaining criminal cases connected to a Bangor murder wrapped up on Friday afternoon with two final sentences handed out.
Holden Melvin, 34, of Exeter was the last of five people to be sentenced for his role in the killing of Dylan Caruso, who was last seen on Sept. 30, 2024, in Bangor.
Melvin was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but five years suspended on Friday in Penobscot County Superior Court after he pleaded guilty to one felony count of hindering apprehension or prosecution on Sept. 15. He has already spent 538 days in jail.
Samantha McCullough also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of violation of conditions of release and was sentenced to 33 days, time she had already served in jail.
Their sentences end nearly two years of court cases after five people were charged for various roles in Caruso’s murder and ensuing cover-up.
Melvin is ashamed of his role in the case and if he could he would do anything to prevent the harm that happened, his defense attorney David Bate said.
Caruso’s mother has been at every sentencing and there is nothing Melvin can do to make up for what the family has lost, Judge Bruce Mallonee said. However, Melvin can work to make the rest of his life better to help other families moving forward.
After Melvin was sentenced, Caruso’s mother told him to get his education and do something better with his life and Melvin responded by saying he will do that and that he was sorry.
As part of McCullough’s agreement with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, one felony count each of hindering apprehension or prosecution and tampering with a witness or informant was dismissed.
Caruso’s body was found weeks after he was last seen, on Oct. 23 in Exeter. Caruso allegedly owed a $600 drug debt to people from Exeter and was killed for being unable to pay, according to previous court testimony.
Dylan Boyce, 33, of Exeter pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one felony count of murder and two counts of tampering with a witness, informant, juror or victim in Penobscot County Superior Court. He was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder charge and five years each for the tampering charges.
Dylan Belanger, 33, of Corinth was sentenced on Tuesday to five years in prison for hindering apprehension or prosecution, with all but 195 days suspended. He will serve three years of probation. He had pleaded guilty Aug. 18.
Kenneth Creamer, 37, of Exeter pleaded guilty to intentional or knowing murder, as well as one count each of aggravated trafficking of fentanyl and aggravated trafficking of cocaine the same day as Belanger. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
On Sept. 30, 2024, Caruso came to Bangor and asked McCullough if he could stay the night with her at her Ohio Street apartment. She said no because her minor son was staying with her, Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Ackerman said previously while detailing what is believed to have happened that night.
After Caruso left the apartment, Belanger and Creamer followed him to Coe Park. Creamer started yelling at Caruso while demanding the money, and then Creamer pulled out a black handgun and shot Caruso in the head, Ackerman had said.
There’s disagreement about where Caruso was shot, with attorneys for Melvin and McCullough saying the shooting happened in the Ohio Street apartment.
They shoved Caruso in the trunk of a car and drove him to woods in Exeter. Boyce then stabbed Caruso, Ackerman said. Boyce and Creamer also dropped a rock on Caruso’s head and neck area after dumping him in a ditch.
Belanger eventually took police to Caruso’s body, Ackerman said.