Three arrested in Downeast cold case murder from 2017

Wayne Foss (Courtesy)

AUGUSTA, Maine - Three suspects in the 2017 slaying of a Whitneyville man have finally been identified.

The first arrest came on Sept. 21 when 33-year-old Justin Matthews formerly of Pembroke, Maine, was charged with murder, felony murder, arson, and robbery. Matthews was transported to the Washington County Jail where he is being held without bail.

Then on Wednesday 27-year-old Leanza Boney was arrested at his Staten Island apartment. Boney was arrested on the same charges as Matthews. He is awaiting extradition to Maine.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Basilio Liranzo also from New York City, is currently incarcerated in the Maine State Prison on unrelated charges and will be charged with felony murder, robbery, and arson.

Police originally became involved in the case during the early morning hours of October 28, 2017, when investigating a structure fire in Whitneyville. Soon after arrival, a body was discovered in the burned-out home and later identified as the homeowner, Wayne Foss, 48.

His remains were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy was performed, and Foss's death was ruled a homicide. Despite an extensive investigation, the case remained unsolved. Like all unsolved homicide cases, it remained an active investigation and detectives vigorously pursued every lead in the case over the next six years. Last week the three suspects were indicted by a Washington County Grand Jury.