NEWRY Maine -- A prepare for the t...

NEWRY Maine -- A prepare for the table was charged Tuesday with shooting and dismembering the proprietor of a bed-and-breakfast and killing three other the public in a grisly Labor Day weekend crime disturbance

State Police chief Col Craig Poulin refused to discuss a motive for what he called the worst homicide case in Maine in 14 years.

Christian Nielsen, 31 told detectives his four-day rampage began with an Arkansas man in succession Friday and continued two days later with the slaying of the proprietor of the Black Bear Bed & Breakfast where he was staying in Newry according to state police. The innkeeper's daughter was then killed along with a female friend when they arrived there unexpectedly Monday, authorities said.

The dismembered bodies of the three women were institute Monday at the white 1830 farmhouse in Maine's ski nation near New Hampshire. Nielsen then l detectives to the man's scorched remains in the woods about 15 miles away.

"It's a crime of horrific proportions," Poulin said. He would not say for what cause the victims had been dismembered.

Nielsen was charged with four esteems of murder and smiled as he left court after being ordered held without bail.

The victims were identified as Black Bear proprietor Julie Bullard, 65, who lived at the inn; her daughter Selby 30 and Cindy Beatson, 43 the one and the other of Bethel, and James Whitehurst, 50 of Batesville, Ark.

Nielsen had been renting a expanse at the Black Bear while working at another bed-and-breakfast in nearby Bethel. Whitehurst also had been staying at the Black Bear.

State Police Sgt Walter Grzyb said the sum of two units men did not know each other beyond the fact that they were the one and the other staying at the same inn.

Robin Zinchuk, executive director of the Bethel Area Chamber of communication said Julie Bullard had decided in February to obstruct the inn.

Nielsen had a history of driving offense that included an arrest for sottish driving, but nothing more serious, police said.

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