In a shocking incident in the small town of Readfield, Maine, a former SpaceX engineer is accused of murdering his wife and critically injuring his mother. The suspect, 34-year-old Samuel Whittemore, was visiting his parents’ residence with his wife, Margaux Nguyen Whittemore, on February 19 when the police were alerted to the scene around 10 a.m.
Margaux, a 32-year-old yoga instructor and world traveler, was discovered deceased outside the property, according to a statement from the Maine State Police on Friday. During the initial probe, Samuel’s mother, 67-year-old Dorothy Whittemore, was found inside the house with severe injuries from the attack.
Dorothy was immediately transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta, located 16 miles from the residence. Initially listed in critical condition, her status has since been upgraded, as per police reports. The property on Giles Road, where the incident occurred, has been co-owned by Dorothy and Henry Whittemore since 1990. Henry was not present at the home during the attack.
Authorities report that Samuel Whittemore fled the scene before their arrival but was apprehended by a state trooper shortly after. The couple had been married for five months, having held a private ceremony at a Maine lake on September 8, 2024.
Samuel Whittemore, an MIT graduate, had a six-year tenure at SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk. He last held the position of Senior Avionics System Engineer before his departure in July 2021. Currently, he is the lead engineer for Coral Gardners, a French Polynesia-based company, where he has been employed since April 2023. He is also the owner and captain of a 50-foot sailboat named the SV Havili.
Margaux, a graduate of SKEMA Business School, had been working as a communication specialist with various French companies since 2019 and had been freelancing as a marketing specialist since 2020. She hailed from Durango, Colorado.
The chief medical examiner in Augusta ruled Margaux’s death a homicide following an autopsy. However, the police have not yet released a cause of death or motive for the crime. Samuel Whittemore has been charged with murder and is currently being held without bail at the Kennebec County Jail.
Despite his attorney’s assertion of his competence to appear, Whittemore’s scheduled court appearance in Augusta was postponed. Superior Court Justice Daniel Mitchell ordered a mental competency evaluation for Whittemore before court proceedings can resume.