A Damariscotta man, James R. Clark Jr., 49, has been arrested in connection with the murder of his ex-wife, Levern Kelley, in Waldoboro, Maine, according to the Maine State Police. Clark was taken into custody at the Red Carpet Inn in South Daytona, Florida, after a multi-day investigation.
Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Clark on Friday after Kelley’s death was officially ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner. Kelley, 53, was found dead at her Genthner Road home in Waldoboro following a 911 call from someone checking on her on August 9.
Clark fled the area after the incident but was located in Florida with assistance from the Maine Information and Analysis Center and local Florida authorities.
A GoFundMe page, titled “Justice For Bernie,” was created by Kelley’s daughter, Amanda Gustafson, to honor her mother’s memory and cover final expenses. Amanda described her mother as kind-hearted and beloved by family and friends. Kelley, known affectionately as “Bernie,” grew up in Lincolnville and lived in several Maine towns, including Union and Waldoboro, where she raised her two daughters and worked for over ten years at Pen Bay Medical Center.
Court records show Clark had a troubled history, including a $500 fine and a month in jail for habitual offender violations. Previous charges for domestic violence against Kelley in May 2024 were dismissed. Clark was also arrested earlier this year for operating after habitual offender revocation.
Levern Kelley and James Clark had been engaged in 2021 with plans to marry in 2022, but the relationship evidently ended tragically.
Amanda Gustafson thanked the community for their ongoing support following Clark’s arrest and the GoFundMe campaign’s success.
