Facebook friends try to make sense of unspeakable

Zachary D.J. Pinette

As family and friends this week mourned the passing of Madbury teen Aaron Wilkinson, one of his accused killers’ Facebook page has become a platform for condemnation of the brutal crime and the Springvale man’s involvement in it.

Zachary D.J. Pinette, 18, of 58 Rankin St., Springvale, Maine, has been incarcerated since Wednesday night when he was arrested by police and charged with first-degree murder, but that hasn’t stopped his Facebook page from providing a free-wheeling commentary on what could have prompted him to allegedly take part in such a heinous crime.

The Lebanon Voice was the first local newspaper to file the story of the arrests, at 9:44 a.m. on Thursday. An hour and 15 minutes later the first message of disbelief went up on his wall, “No why you!!!!!”

Aaron Wilkinson

Pinette is accused of aiding and facilitating the planning of the killing and as the one who drove Tristan Wolusky, 18, of 46 Lowell St., Rochester; and Michael Tatum, 21, of 236 Young Road, Barrington, N.H., to Wilkinson’s home in Madbury where he was killed somewhere on the property around 1:30 a.m. on June 21.

Wilkinson’s body was found that Saturday alongside Long Swamp Road in Lebanon.

The three were arraigned in Dover District Court on Thursday and are being held without bail at the Strafford County Jail while awaiting a July 14 probable cause hearing.

While Pinette has been charged with first degree murder like the other two, in the arrest complaint he is never specified as having delivered any of the stab wounds. It does, however, say he held a machete as the other two stabbed Wilkinson with knives and the machete Pinette had been holding.

The three have no access to the Internet while incarcerated, a jail warden said on Friday, but that hasn’t stopped Pinette’s Facebook page from lighting up with those both condemning and trying to stick up for their friend.

“Just so you know, I ----ing hate you and you "buddies". What were you thinking!?!?! Do you realize what you did? Cause I don't think you do. I'm not trying to start anything on your wall, but Aaron was like a brother to me. & You won't ever even begin to understand the heart break his family and friends are going through,” said one post late Thursday morning.

Another read, “Zac, are you serious man... we use to hang out.. bro I always thought of you like a brother and you pull this shit.  its sad man.. that you did this. I just never thought you'd do such a thing to someone.. that just saddens me that I hung out with you and you were so nice and funny af and you never seemed the type to ever hurt anyone.. just I dont get it man. (sic)”

Many of the posts point to Pinette as being a pawn for the two he drove to Madbury.

“Dude I've known you since we were in 5th grade, we were becoming such good friends, you were the shit. But you're not going to brain your way out of this one though, you ----ed up big time and I don't think you're ever coming back. All you had to do is tell those kids to ---- off you weren't helping them, but instead you help do the literal worst thing you could ever do. It was 100% wrong but ---- anyone bashing you and telling you off because other then this you were funny as ---- nice to everyone and respectable. I'll miss the hell out of you dude stay strong.”

Some of the posts drew in excess of 30 comments, including a profile picture change taken in late May.

Many of the posters point to the fact that it is unlikely any of the three has Internet access while in jail, but that hasn’t stopped the fusillade of Facebook byplay of those vilifying him or those trying to defend his alleged role in the brutal killing.

A Facebook page for Wolusky was not immediately found, and Tatum’s Facebook page has drawn only minimal posts.

Meanwhile, a man who identified himself as Mr. Wolusky at Tristan Wolusky’s Rochester home refused an interview from The Lebanon Voice on Friday.