Maine judge orders Bath police to release records in 2024 double homicide
Judge Orders Bath Police to Release Records in 2024 Double‑Murder Case
SAGADAHOC COUNTY, ME – A Maine judge has ordered the Bath Police Department (BPD) to release a range of documents and body‑camera footage that were previously withheld following the October 6, 2024, shooting that claimed the lives of Lisa Bailey, 58, and her daughter Jennifer Bailey, 32.
The order came after The Times Record and WMTW filed a lawsuit against BPD, arguing that the department had improperly kept public records related to the day of the murders and a series of domestic‑dispute calls made in the preceding weeks. The lawsuit was filed on April 13, 2026, and the judge’s decision was issued on September 8, 2026.
Sagamahoc County Superior Court Justice Daniel Billings ruled that the public’s interest in learning how BPD interacted with the Baileys before the tragedy outweighs potential privacy concerns. “The public’s interest in learning about BPD’s interactions with the Baileys in the days prior to their deaths weighs heavily against the risk of violating personal privacy interests,” Billings wrote in his opinion.
The shooting on Crawford Drive in Bath involved Michael Bailey, 66, who fired multiple shots at his wife and daughter as they fled the home. After the victims were hit, he re‑entered the house and died by suicide. Police had been called to the same address twice in a single day two weeks before the fatal event, according to Sagadahoc County emergency dispatch records.
When the Times Record and WMTW sought the police reports and body‑camera footage, BPD initially refused to release the files. The Maine Trust for Local News’s attorney sent a letter challenging the refusal, and the department eventually provided some records. However, most of the documents were heavily redacted, with a large number of details obscured.
Billings’ ruling largely sided with the media outlets, mandating that BPD release the records with only limited redactions. The judge specified that redactions could protect third‑party witnesses and blur photographs of the victims’ bodies. He did not impose a deadline for the department to comply, leaving the timeline open.
The order follows a long‑standing public debate over the balance between transparency and privacy in police conduct. Advocates for open government argue that full disclosure helps ensure accountability, especially in cases involving potential misconduct. Critics worry that unredacted releases could compromise ongoing investigations or harm witnesses.
BPD officials have not yet issued a public statement on the new ruling. The city’s legal team is reportedly reviewing the order and preparing to comply with the judge’s directive.
The decision is expected to bring additional clarity to the circumstances that led to the Baileys’ deaths, providing the Bath community with a fuller understanding of the police response in the days before the tragedy. The case underscores the broader national conversation about public access to law‑enforcement records and the rights of families affected by violent crime.
