BANGOR – Two local men were arrested Wednesday in connection with a fatal fire last month on Essex Street, according to Bangor police.
Police said Joseph “JJ” Johnson, 30, of Old Town and 39-year-old Cote Choneska, 39, of Veazie both were charged with intentional or knowing murder.
Firefighters responded to a fire on Essex Street just before 8 a.m. November 1.
They found 59-year-old Berton Conley unconscious.
He was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
According to the medical examiner, his death was determined to be a homicide.
The arrests come more than a month after the incident occurred.
“There’s a lot of people to talk to, lot of leads to follow up on, evidence to process,” said Lt. Beaulieu. “It just takes time to actually put a good case together.”
Johnson and Choneska were taken to the Penobscot County Jail.
Beaulieu says the case is still under investigation.
