Boyfriend Charged with Murder of Woman at York beach

A woman was found dead on a York beach Friday afternoon and and her boyfriend charged with her death, according to Maine State Police.

York police received calls about a woman being assaulted behind a large rock on Short Sands Beach just before 4 p.m., according to Maine State Police who are investigating the incident.   A man was brought into custody by York police and the body of a woman, identified as Rhonda Pattelena, 35, of Bedford, Massachusetts,  was found behind the rock, according to Maine State Police.

Jeffrey Buchannan, 33, also of Bedford was charged with murder and was being held at the York County Jail. An investigation into Pattelena's death was ongoing but police said there does not appear to be any risk to the public.

According to her Facebook page she was a healthcare worker.

The couple has a child together but was not present according to police.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH