Maine Attorney General announces new hire for Unsolved Homicide Unit

February 9, 2016

AUGUSTA ? Maine Attorney General Janet T. Mills today announced that a final hiring decision has been made to complete the staff of Maine?s Unsolved Homicide Unit. Renee Ordway has been hired to serve as the Victim Advocate to work with the family members in these cases, making the unit fully staffed.

?In her 30 year career in journalism, Renee has demonstrated an ability to give voice to victims in a manner that has earned her a reputation for fairness and compassion,? said Attorney General Mills. ?We are very pleased to have the unit at full complement and working on these difficult cases. As we have said over the last several years as the Legislature considered creating this unit, we cannot guarantee convictions, but we can guarantee our undivided attention and our best efforts.?

In June, 2015, the legislature recognized the need to devote additional, dedicated resources to the investigation of unsolved homicides. It created Maine?s first unsolved homicide unit and funded positions for two Maine State Police detectives and one forensic chemist to work exclusively on State Police unsolved homicide cases in coordination with a prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General. In late December, the Maine State Police selected and assigned detectives Jay Pelletier and Bryant Jacques to the Unsolved Homicide Unit. They are joined by Forensic Chemist Alison Gingras of the State Crime Laboratory. Lara Nomani is the Attorney General?s Office dedicated prosecutor within the Criminal Division to review these cases. Renee Ordway now joins this team of professionals as a Victim Advocate within the Attorney General?s Office.

Lt. Jeffery Love, who oversees the State Police involvement of the unit, said Ordway?s appointment rounds out a team of ?committed and veteran professionals.? The two detectives have 40 years of combined State Police service, coupled with Gingras? 17 years of experience at the State Police Crime Lab. ?There will not be instant results, but the team assembled have vast experience as they work with the Attorney General?s Office to continue to investigate the state?s unsolved homicides,? Love said.

Renee Ordway?s first day at the Attorney General?s Office will be in the in the coming weeks.

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