Death Investigation

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at approximately 9:00 am, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence at 476 Swetts Pond Road in Orrington. The homeowners, Russell and Lois Swanson, both 89-years-old were found deceased. The husband and wife were discovered by a family member.   
The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and Evidence Response Team were called to help investigate the circumstances of the deaths. That investigation continues at this time.
There is no known risk to the public.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.

On Friday, September 2, 2022 at approximately 4:51 pm, the Sanford Police Department responded to the intersection of Bates and Bowdoin Streets as a result of a 911 call. It was reported that a male had been stabbed.  When officers arrived on-scene they learned that the male had been transported to the hospital in a private vehicle. The Sanford Police Department notified the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – South who responded to the scene along with the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team.
 
The victim, 32-year-old Dane Brooks of Sanford succumbed to his injuries on the morning of Saturday, September 3, 2022. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta conducted a post-mortem examination on the deceased Sunday morning, September 4, 2022. 
 
Crime scene technicians and analysts from the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team processed the scene. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit - South continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident along with the assistance of the Sanford Police Department.  
 

 From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.
 
On Thursday, February 24, 2022, shortly after 01:34 a.m., the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home at 82 Pleasant Point Road in Lovell to conduct a welfare check on 41-year-old Jennifer Lingard of Dighton, Massachusetts. Lingard was in Lovell vacationing at her family’s home.  Deputies arrived to find Jennifer deceased inside the home with her two young children who were unharmed. Maine State Police Major Crime Unit Detectives were called to assist in the investigation and worked with witnesses and family members to gather statements and evidence. Maine State Police Detectives worked with the Newport, Rhode Island Police to locate and speak with 33-year-old Sami Daou of Newport, Rhode Island who was vacationing with Lingard and her children in Maine. Lingard and Daou were in a relationship at the time.

On Saturday, February 26, 2022, Daou was found deceased inside his Rhode Island home. The Rhode Island medical examiner determined that Daou died as a result of a drug overdose. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta conducted an autopsy following Lingard’s death back in February.  After recently receiving toxicology results, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Liam Funte ruled her death a homicide.  The Maine State Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Lingards’ death.
 

From the Desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North and Troop J, with assistance from the National Park Service, are investigating the hit and run death of 35-year-old Nicole Mokeme of South Portland that occurred in Acadia National Park on the campus of the Schoodic Education and Research Center sometime between Saturday night (June 18, 2022) and the early hours of Sunday morning (June 19, 2022). The State Police do not believe there is an ongoing public risk and believe this to be an isolated incident. 

The State Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle that may have been involved. The vehicle is described as a 2016, Black BMW X3 SUV bearing Maine Registration 5614WM registered to a 35-year-old Raymond Lester out of Portland Maine. The vehicle may have front-end or undercarriage damage. If you see or locate this vehicle, do not approach but immediately call the State Police. The attached photo is a stock photo only to represent the vehicle of interest.

If anyone has relevant information please call the State Police at 207-973-3700 x9.  
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

The Maine State Police and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office are investigating an altercation between two men. The incident happened Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at home in Somerville sometime between 9:30 am and 10:00 am.

The altercation left one man dead. Another man is now at a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The deceased will be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy is expected to be performed Friday.

No names are being released at this time pending family notification.

The investigation is in its early stages. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and Evidence Response Team will be investigating the crime scene and conducting interviews well into the night trying to piece together exactly what happened this morning.
 

From the Desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Sunday, June 20, 2021, at approximately 2:30 pm the Maine State Police’s Major Crimes Unit was notified about the death of a 3-year-old child.

The child was taken by a family member to Waldo Hospital in Belfast Sunday afternoon where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy was performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Monday, June 21, 2021. The cause of death is not being released at this time. Detectives are investigating and will provide additional information as it becomes available.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

State Police Major Crimes Unit South is currently working with Cumberland and York County Sheriff’s Offices investigating the death of 29 year old Amanda Brown of Standish.  

 On June 16, 2021 at approximately 9:48 am the Cumberland County Sherriff’s Office responded to a home at 35 Dow Road in Standish as part of an assault investigation.  Deputies discovered a women who has been identified as 29-year-old Amanda Brown of Standish deceased. She has been taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. Detectives will continue to work with both agencies to investigate the incident. 

Dow Rd. in Standish is still closed and will be for couple of hours. Maine State Police say there is no danger to the public.

Additional information will be provided when available. 
 

At approximately 1:32 am on Friday, February 12th, the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call for what was reported as a home invasion scenario with possible gunshot(s).  When the deputies arrived on scene they found a male unresponsive on the floor and a female in medical distress.  Both male and female victims later died at the hospital.  The victims have been identified as 52-year-old Troy Varney and 48-year-old Dulsie Varney. 

The suspect was located in the house and was taken into custody.  He was identified as Patrick Maher, 24, of Turner.  The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit - South began responding to the incident at approximately 2:19 a.m.  At 2:20 p.m., Maine State Police Detectives charged Patrick Maher with two counts of murder and he was brought to the Androscoggin County Jail.  Authorities are confident that there is no on-going risk to public safety.  

Detectives remain on scene interviewing witnesses and other persons of interest.  The Maine State Police Evidence Response team crime scene technicians are processing the scene at this hour and are expected to remain on scene throughout the day.  The Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department, Maine State Police Troop B and the Lewiston Police Department also assisted in securing the scene, identifying witnesses and securing evidence.  
 

State and Winthrop police are investigating a death at Squire Court in Winthrop. On the evening of Oct. 3, 2020, at approximately 10:53 p.m. Winthrop Police received a call reporting the death. The Winthrop Police Department responded and requested the State Police Major Crimes Unit. Investigators worked throughout the night and into this morning. That work will continue Sunday. 

This is being investigated as a suspicious death. The Medical Examiners office responded to the residence last evening and will be conducting an autopsy today (Oct. 4, 2020) or tomorrow (Oct. 5, 2020). 

State Police recommend residents take normal precautions and report anything suspicious to the Winthrop Police. 
 

UPDATE: The Maine State Police arrested Adam Groves, 44, of Lincoln and charged him with Murder for the death of Pauline Taylor at 940 Transalpine Road in Lincoln.  Groves was taken into custody without incident and has been transported to the Penobscot County jail.
 
Maine State Police personnel are still at the residence and will remain there throughout the day as they continue their investigation. 


Maine State Police are investigating the death of a Lincoln woman. At approximately 8 p.m. on Aug. 19, 2020,  the Penobscot County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a residence located at 940 Transalpine Road in Lincoln.  

The Lincoln Police Department and the Lincoln Ambulance Service responded to the call.  The initial responding officers determined that there had been a shooting at the residence.  The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit was notified and responded to the scene.  As result of the shooting, one person is deceased and a second has been transported to a local hospital.  

The deceased has been identified as 63 year old Pauline Taylor who lived at the Transalpine Road residence.  Her remains are being transported to the Medical Examiner’s office in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed later today, Aug. 20, 2020. 

The Lincoln Police Department, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department and the Maine Warden Service have assisted with the investigation.   

There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time.  If anyone has information about the shooting they can contact the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit by calling 207-973-3700 x9.