March

The Maine State Police Special Victims Unit initiated an investigation earlier this month after receiving a direct report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip originated from a 14-year-old girl in Florida who reported inappropriate online communication with an adult male. The investigation involved 32-year-old Nicholas Nadeau of Winslow, Maine, who is now deceased. At the time of his death, the investigation was in its preliminary stages.

During that early phase, investigators identified evidence consistent with sexual exploitation offenses. Due to the death of Nadeau, the case has been closed, and no charges will be filed. Investigative resources will be focused on other active cases. The Maine State Police recognize the courage of those who come forward in these types of cases. Their willingness to report these incidents plays an important role in protecting others and helping law enforcement identify and investigate these crimes.

Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a similar incident is encouraged to report it to their local law enforcement agency or through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

On Monday, March 23, 2026, at approximately 7:02 PM, Maine State Police responded to a crash on Interstate 95 northbound near mile marker 189 in Veazie.

The initial investigation indicates that an 18-year-old female from Bangor, operating a 2013 Kia Sorento, lost control of her vehicle due to snowy road conditions and came to rest in the median. She exited the vehicle and was standing behind the guardrail when a 54-year-old man from Medford stopped to assist and joined her behind the guardrail. His wife, who was traveling with him, called 911 while the two were outside of their vehicles. While both were outside their vehicles, they were struck by a passing vehicle operated by a 19-year-old female from Old Town, who lost control in the snowy conditions.

Preliminary information suggests the man may have attempted to shield the young driver at the time of the crash. Both pedestrians were thrown down an embankment. The 18-year-old sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The 54-year-old sustained serious injuries and remains in critical condition.

The operator of the striking vehicle also sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Speed is not believed to be a factor in the crash. The incident remains under investigation.

Bowdoinham: On Saturday, March 21, 2026, at approximately 2:27 PM the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Maine State Police Bomb Squad after they responded to a complaint of an individual who found a possible mortar round on their property on White Road in Bowdoinham. MSP Bomb Technicians Wing and Pescitelli arrived on scene and identified the item as an 81MM M374 mortar round. X-ray analyses showed indicators of the item being potentially hazardous. The round was removed from the residence to be rendered safe in a secure location.

Winslow: On Saturday, March 21, 2026, at approximately 3:36 PM, the Winslow Fire and Police Department responded to a residence on Main Street for a report of a hand grenade that was located while the complainant was cleaning out the residence. First responders requested the Maine State Police Bomb Squad and Technician Pina responded to the scene. The grenade was identified as a live standard MK2 hand grenade from the WWII or Korean War era. The grenade was removed from the residence and will be rendered safe in a secure location.

On Friday, March 20, 2026, at approximately 1:26 AM, the Lewiston-Auburn Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting on Union Street in Lewiston. Lewiston Police responded to the scene and requested assistance from the Maine State Police. Upon arrival, officers located a female suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Maliyah Powell of Lewiston, was transported to Central Maine Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound and the manner of death homicide.  Detectives from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, along with Evidence Response Technicians, processed the scene throughout the morning.

As a result of the investigation 25-year-old Elise Bergeron of Lewiston, was arrested and charged with Murder. She was transported to the Androscoggin County Jail. The investigation is being conducted by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Maine State Police at 207.624.7076 option 9.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at approximately 2:14 PM, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central arrested 30-year-old Edward Longley of Skowhegan in Skowhegan.

Longley has been charged with Murder and Elevated Aggravated Assault in connection with a shooting that occurred on February 2, 2026, on Flagg Street in Augusta. As a result of the incident, 51-year-old Billyjack Curtis of Augusta died from the injuries he sustained. An autopsy was conducted at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, which determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death homicide.

A second victim, 40-year-old Sherry Gilley of Brunswick, was also injured during the shooting. She was initially transported to MaineGeneral in Augusta and later transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland. She was released and is currently recovering from her injuries.

Longley was transported to the Somerset County Jail where he is being held without bail. No further details will be released at this time.

On Monday, March 16, 2026, at approximately 5:30 PM the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a report from an individual near the Number 1 Road in Limington who stated they had found what they believed to be a grenade near a dumpster along the roadway. Troopers from the Southern Field Troop responded and identified the object as a potentially hazardous device and requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Bomb Squad.

Technicians responded to the scene and attempted to X-ray the item; however, they were unable to determine the exact status of the energetic material inside. Out of an abundance of caution, the item was countercharged on site and deemed safe.

A photo of the item is attached. The device closely resembles a military-style M67 hand grenade, though it appeared to have been altered.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at approximately 5:38 AM, the Maine State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-95 in Waterville.

Preliminary details of the scene indicate a vehicle driven by 41-year-old Raymond Fenderson of Brunswick, was merging onto I-95 northbound off of the mile marker 130 on ramp from Waterville when Fenderson collided with a motorist who was traveling northbound on I-95. Fenderson’s vehicle crashed head-on into the guardrail on the median side and Fenderson became entrapped in the vehicle. Crews from Waterville-Fire and Rescue responded and worked to extricate Fenderson from the vehicle, ultimately freeing him after approximately 30 minutes.

Raymond sustained serious injuries that are considered non-life threatening and was transported by Waterville Fire to a local hospital. No other injuries were reported.

The preliminary investigation indicates impairment is a likely factor. The crash remains under investigation. The passing lane on I-95 was shut down for the duration of time it took emergency responders to remove Raymond and clear the wreckage from the roadway.

The Maine State Police was assisted by the Waterville Fire Department and Dostie’s Towing.

On Sunday, March 8, 2026, at approximately 07:30 PM, the Franklin County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting the shooting of 23-year-old Makayla Rose Desantis of Colchester, Connecticut. First responders transported Makayla to MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington prior to her eventual transport to Maine Medical Center in Portland where she succumbed to her injuries. Investigators learned that Makayla sustained her injuries at a residence on Left Bank in Carrabassett Valley.

On the evening of March 9, 2026, 24-year-old Austin Doucette of Carrabassett Valley was arrested and charged with the murder of Makayla Rose Desantis.

This investigation was conducted by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and was assisted by the Carrabassett Valley Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.  

The investigation is ongoing. Additional information will be released when it’s appropriate to do so.

On Sunday, May 14, 2023, the Windham Police Department investigated a report of a missing person from their town. The family of 34-year-old Alex Jackson of Windham reported him missing with no contact since Friday, May 12, 2023, which was atypical behavior for him. Investigators with the Maine State Police, Windham Police Department, Lewiston Police Department, Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Hampshire State Police worked to develop leads over the following ten months. On Friday, March 29, 2024, an arrest warrant was obtained for 30-year-old Joseph Chute of Leeds on the charge of murder. Chute was arrested Friday evening without incident and transported to the Androscoggin County Jail where he is being held without bail. The body of Jackson has not been recovered at this time. Chute will make his initial appearance in Androscoggin County Superior Court on Monday, April 1, 2024. 

*Please contact the Androscoggin County Jail for a booking photo.

*No other information is available at this time.

On Monday, March 25, 2024, at approximately 6:30 PM, the Maine State Police were requested to respond to the South Strong Road in Farmington to investigate a serious personal injury crash that occurred during a motor vehicle pursuit. As Troopers were responding to the call, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 32-year-old Joshua Burdin of Strong was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The incident unfolded at approximately 4:59 pm when Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office were called to a residence in the town of Strong to investigate a sexual assault of a child.  Burdin was immediately identified as the suspect and had fled the residence before officers arrived on scene. 

At approximately 6:11 PM, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy located Burdin driving a 2006 Subaru Impreza in Strong and attempted to make a traffic stop.  Burdin failed to stop, leading Deputies on a low-speed pursuit through Strong and into Farmington on the South Strong Road where Officers with the Farmington Police Department were able to successfully deploy spike strips.  After the Subaru’s front tires were spiked, Burdin accelerated at a high rate of speed on the South Strong Road and struck a tree head-on.

The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed. The crash remains under investigation.