‘What have I f****** done’ – Husband, 60, sobs in court after being charged with killing his wife, 59, after ‘firing shots at her car on highway’

A man cried in court – as he expressed his remorse – after being accused of murdering his wife in the western Maine.

David Gaudreau, 60, appeared remotely for the hearing and at one point openly remarked, “What the hell did I do?”

He made the tearful confession less than a day after a fatal crash on a stretch of Route 108. Callers reported a truck pulled up next to the vehicle involved and fired shots at it, before finding a deceased woman in the driver’s seat.

She was later identified as Dale Gaudreau, Gaudreau’s 59-year-old wife, Maine State Police said — after which he was arrested for her murder.

In between, Gaudreau reportedly called several family members to tell them he had shot his wife before surrendering to police. He was then transported to the Cumberland County Jail, where he participated in proceedings remotely on Wednesday.

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David Gaudreau, 60, appeared remotely for the hearing in western Maine, at one point openly saying, “What the hell did I do?”

He made the tearful confession less than a day after a deadly crash on a stretch of Route 108. Callers reported a truck pulled up next to the vehicle involved and fired shots at it, before a deceased woman was found dead in the driver’s seat.

“What the hell did I do?” Gaudreau said through tears, appearing only a few times on screen while covering his face.

He did not enter a plea or speak again, and he was jailed without bail until a yet-to-be-confirmed psychiatric evaluation.

The appearance was his first before a yet-to-be-announced trial in which he will likely be charged with first-degree murder.

Details of the case, meanwhile, were not discussed, but Maine State Police said the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department began receiving emergency calls about the motor vehicle crash the day before, just after 7 p.m.

Callers reported that a person driving a truck, believed to be Gaudreau, had stopped next to Dale’s blue Hyundai to begin shooting before speeding off on the section of highway in the small town of Peru.

The Oxford County Sheriff’s Department then requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-South in the subsequent investigation, speaking with members of the suspect’s family and residents living along the road.

A resident who asked not to be named told CBS affiliate 13-WGME how after hearing the gunshots he initially thought it was fireworks and children, but then saw and heard Dale screaming – a memory he said left him will haunt you for a long time.

Fellow resident Roben Dollof, who also heard the gunshots, said she was home with her husband when the commotion started, after which they “didn’t dare go outside,” she said.

She was later identified as Dale Gaudreau, Gaudreau’s 59-year-old wife, Maine State Police said — after which he was arrested for her murder

Details of the case, meanwhile, were not discussed, but Maine State Police said the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department began receiving emergency calls the day before about the motor vehicle crash on a portion of Route 108 in the town of Peru (photo)

Callers reported that a person driving a truck, believed to be Gaudreau, had stopped next to Dale’s blue Hyundai to begin shooting before speeding away on the stretch of highway. The Oxford County Sheriff’s Department then requested the assistance of the Maine State Police in the subsequent investigation, during which they spoke with residents who live on the road

Resident Roben Dollof, who also heard the gunshots, said she was home with her husband when the commotion started, after which they “didn’t dare go outside,” she said.

As of this writing, Gaudreau — who turned himself into a police officer of his own accord that day — remains in the Cumberland County Jail. A future trial has yet to be scheduled

‘I froze. I thought, ‘What should we do? Should we lock the doors and hide?’

Other witnesses interviewed by investigators said more of the same, state police said.

They reported that a truck pulled up next to Dale’s car and someone opened fire before driving away.

Staff at Rumford Hospital, a few miles away, revealed that Dale had been a nurse at the facility for 20 years, during which time she worked in the medical surgical department.

“She was a true leader, serving as a mentor to other nurses and receiving numerous awards for nursing excellence,” said hospital president Stephany Jacques, adding, “[their] our thoughts are with Dale’s family at this difficult time.”

Police further revealed that Gaudreau converted himself of his own accord late Tuesday, just before midnight, after calling several unspecified family members to confess to the crime.

“From what I’ve heard, it’s a pretty sad situation,” Dolloff said the next day. ‘I sympathize with all the family members.’

As of this writing, Gaudreau remains in the Cumberland County Jail. A future trial has yet to be scheduled.