Maine man allegedly dismembered neighbor with chain saw, burned remains in fire pit

BRUNSWICK, Maine (TCN) -- A 45-year-old man is being held without bail after police allege he beat his neighbor with a baseball bat, stabbed him, dismembered him with a chain saw, and disposed of the remains in a fire pit.

Police received a report of a disturbance during an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting on April 10, according to WGME. Attendees at the meeting said a man there had sent women inappropriate photos and was attempting to hug them, according to WMTW, and they believed he was under the influence at the time.

When police arrived, Tanner Dostie allegedly got on the ground and began crawling across the church’s parking lot on his stomach. He reportedly had a knife in his belt and allegedly refused to comply with police orders. According to WGME, officers used a stun gun on Dostie 13 times. 

In an interview with authorities, Dostie allegedly said he was on drugs at the time. He also allegedly admitted he killed his neighbor of 10 years, referred to in court documents as Dennis Blasens, 61. Dostie allegedly said he killed him “to free his wife” and that he had “chopped him up into little bitty pieces.” He allegedly went on to say officers could find the remains in a fire pit outside his home. 

WMTW reports Dostie allegedly said he had eaten an entire bag of psychedelic mushrooms he had stolen from someone and he was the happiest he had ever been after he killed Blasens.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WGME, a search of Dostie’s property revealed human bones in a fire pit, along with blood indoors and outside. An investigation found Dostie and Blasens had been working on a truck together when Dostie allegedly beat him with a baseball bat, stabbed him, and then dismembered the body with a chain saw before placing it in the fire pit to dispose of the evidence. 

Dostie allegedly said he felt remorse and would apologize to Blasens if he could, WMTW reports. Blasens’ wife, Michelle Blasens, told detectives her husband and Dostie worked together on a truck every day and Dostie had allegedly gone back on his promise to pay Blasens back for truck parts he had purchased.

Dostie was arrested and charged with murder on April 10 and made his first court appearance April 13, where he did not enter a plea, according to WGME. The Bangor Daily News reports his arraignment has not been scheduled yet.

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