Portland police say they have charged a 50-year old Portland woman with murder of her husband. The couple had a history of domestic violence.

Laureen Rugen is currently being held in Cumberland County.

At a press conference this afternoon, Police Chief Tim Burton said Rugen called 911 early this morning, and when police arrived they found her husband, Christian Rugen, unresponsive. He was declared dead at the scene.

Laureen Rugen did not require medical treatment and was taken into custody. She was later charged with the murder.

Burton would not disclose the cause of death or any details about the incident, other than to say that it took place over several hours.

Burton said there had been reports of domestic violence between the couple. The last arrest was in the late 1990s when Christian Rugen was arrested.

Portland police remove a body from 56 Maggie Lane in Portland.

3:20 p.m.


Earlier coverage:
Portland Police have scheduled a press conference for 3 p.m. today, to provide information about an apparent homicide.

Deputy Police Chief Bill Ridge said a 61-year-old man was found dead inside his home early this morning. The man’s identity has not been released. His address was 56 Maggie Lane, a two-family duplex near the corner of Forest and Warren avenues on the north end of the city.

Ridge has said police believe they know who is responsible for the death, but have made no arrests.

Police arrived at the house, where they found the man dead, around 1:30 a.m. today. The Medical Examiner’s Office removed the body from the home around 11:20 a.m.

56 Maggie Lane was built in 2002. It was appraised at $242,000 and is owned by Scott and Meredith Rousseau, according to city records. The Rousseaus do not live at the duplex.

Rousseau identified the tenants of the home as Chris and Laureen Rugen. He said did not yet now what happened there, however.

The press conference will be held at Portland Police headquarters.