Middleboro stabbing suspect pleads not guilty, police report reveals details

MIDDLEBORO — A Middleboro man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of 66-year-old Paul Pomerleau, his mother’s long-term partner, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

Andrew Horsman, 41, was arraigned in Wareham District Court on Monday, June 30. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf and he is being held without bail.

The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, at 19 Fairview St. Pomerleau was taken to Morton Hospital in Taunton, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 9 p.m. According to officials, he had been stabbed 17 times.

Pomerleau had been in a relationship with Horsman’s mother for more than 20 years. Horsman also lived in the home. According to family members, the two men had ongoing tensions, which primarily revolved around Horsman’s lack of employment and continued residence at the house. An argument between the two preceded Pomerleau’s death. 

The stabbing took place during a steak dinner shared by several family members. Witnesses provided differing accounts of what happened. One said Horsman stabbed Pomerleau without warning; another reported that a fistfight occurred before the stabbing.

The first 911 call came in around 8 p.m. reporting a fight, but the call was disconnected. Minutes later, dispatchers received a second call stating that Horsman had stabbed Pomerleau.

When officers arrived, they found Pomerleau lying in the home’s entryway, unresponsive and surrounded by a large amount of blood. First responders noted he still “appeared to be breathing” and had a pulse at the time.

Police recovered a six-inch steak knife near the scene. According to written statements from responding officers, Horsman poured lighter fluid on Pomerleau’s body after the stabbing and intended to “light him on fire.”

Horsman left the scene but was located near the former Department of Public Works property at 48 Wareham St. Police said he called 911 shortly before his arrest and told a dispatcher he wanted to “turn himself in.”

A relative told investigators the family had discussed seeking mental health care for Horsman and that Pomerleau had previously expressed concerns about his potential for violence.

Pomerleau’s family released the following statement to WCVB-TV on Sunday, June 29: "My dad was a deeply loving father. He had a way of making everyone feel like family and was endlessly dedicated to his kids and grandchildren."

Middleboro Police Chief Robert Ferreira thanked the community for their “patience, understanding, and cooperation during the shelter-in-place” order issued Saturday night before authorities located Horsman. 

“On behalf of the department, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts remain with them in the days ahead,” Ferreira wrote in a statement on Monday, June 30. 

Horsman is scheduled to return to court on July 28.