The Cote family lived in North Gorham on a 35 acre farm. Lottie Cote and her second husband Alphonso lived on the farm with their four children (three from a previous marriage) and Lottie's grandmother.

On November 7 1924 Alphonso Cote was murdered after he was lured into the woods. Alphonso was shot in the head from behind by Charles H. Fielding. Fielding and his wife (Lottie's half sister) were staying on the Cote property at the time. Lottie's son, Ralph Sandborn (of her first husband) disposed of the body in an area scheduled to be plowed the following day.