Grand jury indicts Bill Holmes and widow of Morrill’s Corner shooting victim
Armed robbery and assault charges arrive a year after a biker club brawl in Portland
CHRIS BUSBY AUG 14, 2025 THE BOLLARD
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A grand jury in Cumberland County indicted two men accused of an assault and robbery last summer at a Westbrook tavern that led to a deadly shooting in Portland’s Morrill’s Corner neighborhood later that night.
Bill Holmes, 49, longtime leader of the Portland street gang FSU, and Troy McHugh, 52, the widow of shooting victim Susan McHugh, were indicted earlier this month on multiple charges: two counts of robbery for McHugh, one involving a firearm, and three counts against Holmes, including one assault charge and two robbery charges, one involving the threat of violence. Both men have made bail and been released from custody.
The beef allegedly began on July 30 of last year, when Holmes observed members of Higher Calling, a Christian-based motorcycle club, wearing club patches on the back patio of Brookside, a bar and restaurant on Route 302. Holmes and his associates, including Troy McHugh, allegedly roughed up the younger bikers, including Christopher Marriott, 32, who appears to be a Higher Calling member.
Christopher Marriott (third from right) with fellow biker club members. Higher Calling has organized many charity motorcycle rides in association with local nonprofits and governments. photo/Facebook
Following that fracas, Holmes and his friends returned to Portland, and members of The Outlaws motorcycle club, with whom Higher Calling is affiliated, were made aware of the alleged assault and theft of one or more Higher Calling patches. A large group of Outlaws confronted Holmes, the McHughs and their son, Travis Frechette, in an auto-repair-shop parking lot, some allegedly wielding hammers. Police say shots were fired by both groups and a bullet fatally struck Susan McHugh. Holmes and Troy McHugh were both injured but remained uncharged with any crime until now.
Outlaw biker Aaron Karp, 47, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in this case and was sentenced to 15 years in Maine State Prison with all but five suspended. Four others associated with the club face aggravated assault charges and are awaiting trial.
Holmes could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Rob Andrews, declined to comment at this time, citing a lack of information about the case; it’s unclear who’s representing McHugh. The office of Cumberland County District Attorney Jackie Sartoris declined comment on grounds that the case, initiated by the Portland Police Department, is still active.
Bail conditions prevent Holmes and McHugh from contacting one another or Marriott. They also prevent McHugh from contacting his son, Frechette, whom Holmes is also barred from contacting. Frechette was not indicted.
Tensions between Outlaws and FSU members have remained high, sustaining concern in the community that a gang-style war of retribution could erupt. Holmes’ car, a vintage Pontiac GTO, was vandalized in Portland a couple weeks ago, with all or most of its windows smashed. An investigation of that incident has been initiated.*
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