Houlton Man’s Double Murder Trial Moved to Washington County

The trial of a Houlton man accused of killing an Oakfield couple and setting their house on fire over three years ago has been moved to Washington County.

Thirty-five year old Matthew Davis was scheduled to go on trial in September in Houlton, but an impartial jury could not be seated from a pool of more than 100 potential jurors.  Justice E. Allen Hunter then granted the change of venue motion.

WABI-TV reports the trial will take place at Washington County Superior Court in Machias, with jury selection beginning December 1st.

Davis is accused of shooting 51-year-old Michael Kitchen, and 49-year-old Heidi Pratt in the bedroom of their home in Oakfield in the early morning of September 23, 2013.  Firefighters found the bodies when they responded to a fire at the home. They also found a truck belonging to Katahdin Forest Products on fire at the scene.

Davis allegedly stole and later abandoned a pickup belonging to the couple. Police arrested him in another stolen vehicle later that day in Island Falls.

Davis is charged with murder, arson, theft and aggravated criminal mischief.