'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 - while expressing regret - after being charged with murdering his wife in western Maine. 

David Gaudreau, 60, appeared remotely for the hearing - at one point openly remarking, 'What have I f***ing done?'

He made the admission through tears, less than a day after a fatal crash on a stretch of Route 108. Callers reported a truck stopped next to the vehicle involved and fired shots into it, after which a deceased female was found 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 that he shot his wife, before surrendering himself to cops. He was then transported to Cumberland County Jail, where he joined Wednesday's proceedings remotely.

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'What have I f***ing done?" Gaudreau said through tears, appearing on-screen only a few times while covering his face. 

He did not enter a plea, nor did he speak again, jailed without bail until a yet-to-be-confirmed psychiatric evaluation.

The appearance was his first ahead of a yet-to-be announced trial, during which he will likely face charges of first-degree murder.

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

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

The Oxford County Sheriff’s Department went on to request the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-South's help with the ensuing probe, which saw them speak to members of the suspect's family and residents who live on the road.  

One resident who asked not to be named told CBS affiliate 13-WGME how after hearing the gunshots, he initially thought they were fireworks and kids, but then saw and heard Dale screaming - a memory he said will haunt him 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 the 'didn't dare to go outside,' she said.

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

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

They reported a truck stopping next to Dale's car and someone opening fire, before driving off.

Staffers at Rumford Hospital a few miles away furthger revealed Dale had been an RN at the facility for 20 years, during which she worked in the medical surgery department.

'She was a true leader, serving as a mentor to other nurses and was the recipient of numerous nursing excellence awards,' a statement from hospital president Stephany Jacques said - adding that '[their] thoughts are with Dale's family during this difficult time.'

Cops further revealed that late Tuesday, just before midnight, Gaudreau turned himself on his own accord, after phoning several unspecified family members to own up to the crime. 

"From what I heard, it's a pretty sad situation,' Dolloff the next day said. 'I feel for all the family members.'

As of writing, Gaudreau remains at Cumberland County Jail. A future court date has yet to be scheduled.