BREAKING NEWS: Bar Harbor man charged in hit-and-run death in Southwest Harbor

SOUTHWEST HARBOR, July 27, 2023 - A 31-year-old Bar Harbor man was being held in Hancock County jail today on a manslaughter charge in the hit-and-run death of Amber Robbins, 35, who was struck late at night June 10 on Rt. 102 near the Food Mart.

John F. Holdsworth of 6 Bowles Avenue b, Bar Harbor, was being held on a $35,000 bail recommended by state police detective Dana Austin, the investigating officer. He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow.

“During the late hours of June 10, John Holdsworth left a birthday party in Southwest Harbor,” Austin wrote in his affidavit.

“As he was driving north on Route 102 in his 2016 red-colored Ford F150 pickup truck, he reported that he took his eyes off the road to respond to a cellular text message.

“John Holdsworth’s pickup truck struck Amber Robins, who was a pedestrian walking in the shoulder area near the white fog line of Route 102,” Austin continued.

“John Holdsworth was aware he had struck something but did not stop at the scene to check for injured people or to provide aid to Amber.

“John Holdsworth drove to Bar Harbor to meet up with friends before returning to the crash scene, where he picked up a piece of the truck and brought it back with him to his residence. Amber Robins laid in the ditch yards away with critical injuries.

“John Holdsworth did not report the crash until the evening of June 11, 2023. On June 12, the autopsy of Ms. Robbins was completed the cause of death was blunt force instruments injuries.”

Family-provided photo of Amber Robbins republished from Bangor Daily News

Bangor Daily News reporter Bill Trotter wrote that Robbins grew up in Waldo County and attended Searsport High School, where she played basketball, according to her aunt, Belfast resident Amylin Billings.

Robbins held a few jobs over the years, working at one point for The Jackson Laboratory, and more recently worked as an in-home health aide, Billings old Trotter.

Billings said Robbins was married but at the time of her death was separated and living alone with her daughters, who are 11 and 12 years old. She said the girls “are with family and getting all the love and support they could possibly ever need.

“Whoever did this took a mom away from two little girls,” Billings said. “We just want justice for Amber. We want [whoever did it] found and arrested.”