Skowhegan, ME – Maine State Police say a 55-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the homicide of a woman found dead in Skowhegan earlier this week.
According to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, the victim was identified as 46-year-old Nichole Jackson of Skowhegan. The autopsy determined her cause of death to be blunt force and sharp force trauma, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Based on the investigation, authorities identified Jackson’s boyfriend, Dane Burke, as the suspect. Police say Burke fled the area in a 2018 silver Jeep Compass with Ohio plates.
On January 17, 2026, around 8:00 a.m., officers located the vehicle in Lowell, Massachusetts. When law enforcement attempted to stop it, Burke allegedly refused to comply, leading to a multi-state pursuit involving Massachusetts and New Hampshire State Police.
The chase ended in Dunbarton, New Hampshire, when the vehicle reportedly left the road and crashed into a tree along Route 13. According to police, Burke barricaded himself inside the vehicle before being taken into custody around 10:30 a.m. by a SWAT team.
Burke was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and faces a murder charge in Maine. Once released from the hospital, he will be extradited back to Maine to face prosecution.
Police say the investigation remains ongoing.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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