Human Remains

At approximately 8:51 am on Tuesday, September 21st, the Maine State Police received a call from an individual reporting the discovery of human remains at the solid waste facility on River Road in Lewiston.  Detectives from both the Lewiston Police Department and Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – South responded to that location to interview witnesses and secure the scene. 

Officials from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner assisted in the collection of the remains with members of the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team.  A post-mortem examination on the remains is expected to occur in the coming days.  

Detectives and Evidence Technicians are expected to be at the facility on River Road for much of the day investigating the circumstances surrounding this discovery.  Detectives from both the Lewiston Police Department and Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – South continue interviewing witnesses and other persons of interest at this time.  

The Maine State Police do not believe that there is any threat to the public and will share more information as it becomes available.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

At approximately 3:26 pm on May 8th, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from an individual reporting the discovery of skeletal remains at 196 Poland Springs Road. The call was made by a family member who was cleaning out their father’s residence who died earlier in the year.  The remains were found in an outbuilding on the property. The deceased father was identified as Douglas Scott, 82- years old.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner begun a post-mortem examination on the remains on Sunday morning, May 9th, 2021.  Additional testing and examination is likely to take place throughout the coming weeks.

Detectives, deputies and troopers worked over the weekend investigating the circumstances surrounding this discovery.  Detectives and Deputies continue interviewing witnesses and other persons of interest at this time.  

The Maine State Police Evidence Response team crime scene technicians are processing the scene and are expected to remain on the scene throughout the day.  The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department and the Maine State Police Troop B assisted in securing the scene and identifying witnesses.  The investigation is likely to continue into the coming weeks as authorities work to identify the remains and the circumstances surrounding that discovery.  The Maine State Police do not believe that there is any threat to the public and will share more information as it becomes available.
 

Maine State Police Detectives were called to Sherman yesterday because of human remains discovered in the woods near mile 269 off Interstate 95.  The remains have been transported to the Medical Examiner’s office in Augusta where an exam will be conducted later.  It is believed that the remains are those of an adult male.  Investigators are working on determining the identity of the deceased.  No foul play is suspected. 

State Police are investigating the discovery of human remains in Sandy Stream in Unity.  The discovery was made by kayakers last Friday.  They contacted the Waldo Sheriff's Office.   State Police Detectives collected the remains and have consulted with the State Medical Examiner’s office. The remains appear to be an adult man and likely have been in the stream for several years.  Detectives, Game Wardens and State Police Evidence Technicians conducted searches of the area this week and more are planned, both in the stream and in the immediate area.  Investigators also have reviewed missing persons cases on file, but there is no obvious match.  Anyone with information about the case is asked to call State Police in Augusta at 207-624-7076. 

State Police say they believe the body found yesterday in Jonesport is 43 year old William Merchant, who has been missing for nearly 11 months. An autopsy was completed today at the State Medical Examiner's Office and no determination was made on the cause of the death because of the condition of the remains.  However detectives say there was no evidence of foul play.   Additional work will be completed by the State Police DNA Lab to determine Merchant's positive identification, however items found with the body indicate it is him.