Inside the Care Home Killing That Left a Community in Shock

On Valentine’s Day, inside what was supposed to be a safe and quiet senior living community, the life of an elderly philanthropist ended in violence that investigators say was deliberate and carefully concealed.

Robert G. Fuller Jr., 87, was not only a resident of assisted living. He was a well-known benefactor whose generosity had left a lasting mark across central Maine. Along with his late wife, Moira, Fuller donated millions of dollars to charitable causes, particularly in education and youth athletics. At Cony High School in Augusta, his name is permanently displayed on the school’s athletic turf, honoring a $1.6 million contribution that helped fund facilities for future generations.

In his later years, Fuller lived at Cogir Potomac Senior Living, where he received daily support and medical assistance. Staff described him as dignified and independent, a man who valued privacy but appreciated the care provided by those around him.

A Caregiver With Access

Among the facility’s employees was Marquis Emilio James, a 22-year-old medication technician hired in October. His responsibilities included distributing medication and assisting residents during evening hours. According to authorities, James was one of the staff members assigned to provide nightly care to Fuller.

That access would later become central to the investigation.

On February 14, surveillance cameras inside the senior living complex recorded footage that investigators say raised immediate concern. The video shows a figure wearing a long black wig and a face mask entering and exiting a gated courtyard area. The disguise obscured the individual’s identity, but the timing of the footage closely matched the period during which Fuller suffered a fatal head injury inside his apartment.

A Door That Should Not Have Opened

When Fuller was found, investigators noted something unusual. There were no signs of forced entry inside his residence, and nothing appeared to be stolen. The absence of theft quickly ruled out a random burglary and shifted attention to how someone may have entered the secured area.

A detailed examination of the courtyard door revealed that its alarm sensor had been intentionally disabled. Security logs and camera footage showed that James was the only person recorded using that entrance around the time of the attack.

Investigators began reviewing hours of video and interviewing staff members. The image of a disguised individual moving through a compromised security door suggested planning rather than spontaneity.

Suspicious Movements After the Death

In the days following Fuller’s death, additional concerns emerged.

Authorities say James was discovered inside the care facility after his scheduled shift had already ended. When questioned by colleagues about why he remained on the premises, he reportedly gave an unclear explanation.

Shortly afterward, an exterior door alarm sounded. Before a supervisor could arrive, James left the building.

The sequence raised further suspicion among investigators already piecing together the timeline of events surrounding the homicide.

A Traffic Stop Turns Violent

Not long after leaving the facility, James was stopped during a separate traffic incident. A state trooper noticed that the vehicle he was driving did not have license plates, prompting what should have been a routine stop.

Instead, authorities say the encounter escalated dramatically.

During the stop, James allegedly discharged a firearm. The trooper sustained minor injuries but avoided more serious harm.

“Without a doubt, our state trooper avoided a far more serious outcome,” a law enforcement spokesperson later said, emphasizing how close the encounter came to becoming fatal.

James fled the scene. Investigators later recovered a shell casing left behind during the incident.

Forensic Evidence Links Two Crimes

That shell casing would become a critical piece of evidence.

Ballistics analysis reportedly linked the casing from the traffic stop to forensic evidence connected to Fuller’s killing. The match bridged two events that initially appeared unrelated, strengthening the case against James.

Local and federal authorities coordinated efforts to locate him. The following day, James was found in Rockville after a brief pursuit and taken into custody without further injury.

Search warrants executed during the investigation led officers to recover multiple wigs and a mask matching the disguise seen in surveillance footage at the senior living facility.

Investigators say the items pointed to deliberate efforts to conceal identity and avoid recognition while moving through a secured environment.

Charges and an Unanswered Motive

James has been charged with first-degree homicide in Montgomery County. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison. He is currently being held without bond as the case proceeds through the court system.

Despite the evidence outlined by authorities, a clear motive has not yet been publicly identified. Investigators have acknowledged that, on the surface, the relationship between James and Fuller appeared positive.

“Upon speaking with him, he said their relationship was very good, and he would never have harmed Mr. Fuller,” one official stated, underscoring the complexity of the case.

That claim stands in sharp contrast to prosecutors’ narrative, which centers on surveillance footage, disabled security systems, forensic matches, and the alleged use of a disguise.

A Community Shaken

For residents and staff at the senior living facility, the case has shattered a sense of security. Assisted living environments are designed to protect some of the most vulnerable members of society. The idea that a caregiver could allegedly exploit that trust has left many shaken.

For Fuller’s family and those who benefited from his philanthropy, the loss carries an added layer of grief. He was not only an elderly resident. He was a man whose generosity helped shape schools, athletic programs, and community initiatives.

At Cony High School, the turf bearing his name now feels less like a symbol of generosity and more like a memorial.

Questions That Remain

The case has sparked broader conversations about safety protocols in care facilities, including staff screening, access controls, and alarm monitoring. Investigators’ finding that a door alarm had been disabled has raised concerns about how easily vulnerabilities can be exploited.

As prosecutors prepare their case, they will present a narrative built on a sequence of actions. The alleged disguise. The tampered door. The unexplained presence after a shift. The traffic stop shooting. The forensic link tying it all together.

For now, one critical question remains unanswered.

Why did this happen?

As the legal process unfolds, the courtroom will focus on accountability. Outside it, the focus remains on legacy.

Robert G. Fuller Jr. is remembered not for the violence that ended his life, but for the generosity that defined it. His case stands as a stark reminder that trust within caregiving environments is essential and fragile, and when it is broken, the consequences can be devastating.