For almost a year, the disappearance of William "Bill" Parent from his home on Main Street in Clinton was an open wound in the small Kennebec County community. Now, the case has a name attached to it — and a murder charge.

James Simonson, 66, also of Clinton, was arrested on May 21, 2026, and charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The arrest came nearly eleven months after Parent, 68, was shot to death.

The Disappearance

The timeline begins in late June 2025, when 68-year-old Bill Parent was shot on Main Street in Clinton. But the community didn't know that yet. What they knew was that Parent was suddenly unreachable.

A family member went to check on him and found the door to his home standing open. No sign of Parent. A missing person report was filed — by some accounts in late June, by others in early July 2025. Either way, something was clearly wrong.

For the people who knew Parent, his unexplained absence was alarming. Clinton is a small town. People notice when someone disappears, especially when the circumstances don't add up.

The Discovery

In the fall of 2025, Parent's body was found. The specifics of where and how the discovery was made haven't been fully detailed in public reports. But an autopsy confirmed what investigators likely suspected: William Parent died from gunshot wounds.

The case was now officially a homicide, and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central took the lead.

A Long Investigation

Nearly a year passed between the shooting and the arrest. For the Parent family and the Clinton community, that's a long time to wait for answers.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2026, shortly before 3:30 p.m., Maine State Police arrested James Simonson at his location in Clinton. The 66-year-old was charged with:

  • Murder
  • Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person

Simonson is being held without bail at Kennebec County Jail. The prohibited person charge indicates he had a prior criminal history that legally barred him from possessing firearms — and yet, according to prosecutors, he had one and used it.

Both Simonson and Parent lived on Main Street in Clinton, making them neighbors. The specific nature of their relationship — whether they were acquaintances, had a prior dispute, or what may have motivated the killing — has not been publicly disclosed.

What Took So Long?

A year between a crime and an arrest isn't unusual in homicide investigations, especially when the case begins as a missing person report rather than an obvious crime scene.

Consider the sequence: Parent goes missing. Weeks or months pass before his body is found. The autopsy establishes the cause of death. Then investigators have to work backward — building a case through evidence, witness statements, forensics, and whatever other leads they can develop.

The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central handled the investigation, with Lt. Aaron Turcotte serving as the public spokesperson. The fact that the case culminated in a murder arrest — with enough evidence to hold someone without bail — suggests the investigation was thorough, even if it was slow.

Clinton, Maine — A Small Town Rocked

Clinton sits along the Kennebec River in central Maine, with a population of around 3,000. It's the kind of place where people know their neighbors' routines. When someone's door is found standing open and they're nowhere to be found, the community feels it.

A murder on Main Street — even one that wasn't immediately recognized as such — is the kind of event that redefines a small town's sense of security. For months, residents lived with the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to Bill Parent. Now they're processing the reality that a neighbor has been charged with killing him.

What We Know and What We Don't

What's been confirmed:

  • William "Bill" Parent, 68, was shot and killed in late June 2025 on Main Street in Clinton
  • His body was found in the fall of 2025
  • Cause of death: gunshot wounds (per autopsy)
  • James Simonson, 66, of Clinton was arrested May 21, 2026
  • Charges: murder and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person
  • Simonson is held without bail at Kennebec County Jail

What remains unknown:

  • The motive for the killing
  • The specific relationship between Simonson and Parent beyond being Main Street neighbors
  • The circumstances of Parent's body being discovered
  • What evidence led to Simonson's arrest after nearly a year
  • The nature of Simonson's prior criminal history that made him a prohibited person

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was William "Bill" Parent?

William "Bill" Parent was a 68-year-old Clinton, Maine resident who lived on Main Street. He was reported missing in the summer of 2025 after a family member found his home door open and him nowhere to be found.

How did he die?

An autopsy determined that Parent died from gunshot wounds. The shooting occurred in late June 2025.

Who was arrested?

James Simonson, 66, also of Clinton. He was arrested on May 21, 2026, and charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Why did the arrest take so long?

The case began as a missing person investigation. Parent's body wasn't found until the fall of 2025, and building a murder case from that point required extensive investigation by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit.

Is Simonson out on bail?

No. He is being held without bail at Kennebec County Jail.

Did the suspect and victim know each other?

Both lived on Main Street in Clinton, making them neighbors. The specific nature of their relationship has not been publicly disclosed.

A Community Searching for Closure

For the Parent family, the arrest is a step toward answers they've been waiting nearly a year to get. For Clinton, it's a chance to process what happened and begin moving forward.

Murder cases in small Maine towns are rare, and they leave a mark that lasts far beyond the headlines. The court proceedings ahead will likely reveal more about what happened on Main Street in June 2025, and this community will be watching closely.

This is a developing story. Dirty Lew will provide updates as the case proceeds through the court system.