In Camden, Maine, a wealthy Missouri couple, Amelia and Arthur Bond III, have come under intense scrutiny for poisoning their neighbor’s trees to secure an unobstructed ocean view. The poisoned trees belonged to Lisa Gorman, the widow of Leon Gorman, the former president of L.L. Bean. The couple’s actions were discovered after Gorman noticed the dying trees and had them tested, revealing the use of the herbicide Tebuthiuron.

The Bonds have paid over $1.7 million in fines and settlements, including $1.5 million to Gorman, $180,000 to the town, and $4,500 to the Maine Board of Pesticides Control. Despite this, the state’s attorney general is conducting a further investigation due to the herbicide contaminating a nearby park and beach.

Local residents, united in their outrage, have expressed their frustration, with many calling for harsher penalties. Rep. Vicki Doudera plans to address the issue of the insufficient maximum fine, highlighting the broader concerns about the impact of wealth and power on community ethics.