News Release

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at approximately 10:30 PM, Maine State Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Maine, in connection with the homicide investigation in Union. The juvenile was taken into custody without incident in Union. He was transported to the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. The arrest is the result of relentless investigative work by Detectives and Investigators with the Maine State Police.

The victim, previously identified as 48-year-old Sunshine Stewart of Tenants Harbor, was located during a search of Crawford Pond in Union on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta confirmed her cause of death as strangulation and blunt force trauma. Anyone with pertinent information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at 207.624.7076 or by texting MESPTIP to 847411.

This remains and an active and ongoing investigation. No additional information is being released at this time.

On Friday, July 11, 2025, at approximately 5:12 PM, Troopers from the Central Field Troop responded to a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash in the area of 60 Hussey Hill Road in Albion. It was reported that one adult and two minor children were struck by a vehicle, and the vehicle fled the scene. The adult victim, 33-year-old Mollie Egold of Albion, was transported from the scene via LifeFlight to the hospital with serious injuries. She remains in stable condition. One of the minors was also transported via LifeFlight and remains in critical condition. The second minor was pronounced deceased at the scene. Through the investigation, Troopers were able to identify and locate the vehicle as well as the operator involved. The vehicle was a white 2016 Hyundai Veloster, and the operator was identified as 44-year-old Benjamin Lancaster of Albion. Lancaster was taken into custody and transported to the Kennebec County Jail on the following charges:

• Operating Under the Influence Causing Death

• Operating Under the Influence Causing Serious Bodily Injury (2 counts)

• Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Death

• Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Serious Bodily Injury (2 counts)

Troopers are seeking video footage or surveillance that may cover Hussey Road or Main Street in Albion between 5:00 PM and 5:15 PM on July 11, 2025, involving a white vehicle matching the description above. Anyone with relevant footage or information is encouraged to contact Sgt. Garret Booth at 207.624.7076. The Maine State Police were assisted by LifeFlight of Maine, Albion Fire Department, and Delta Ambulance.

On Friday, July 11, 2025, at approximately 1:06 PM, the Franklin County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting 34-year-old Gabriele Wilbur of Wilton was threatening to shoot a male who was doing landscaping in the yard at 58 Cemetery Road in Wilton.  

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Wilton Police Department responded to the area and attempted to negotiate with Mr. Wilbur but he refused to follow commands. Wilbur pointed a gun at law enforcement personnel. Due to the ongoing threat the Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team was requested and responded.

After a brief standoff, Mr. Wilbur confronted officers while armed, and Maine State Police Trooper Andrew Hardy and Officer Cody Henry from Wilton Police Department discharged their weapons and shot Mr. Wilbur. Law enforcement personnel rendered aid to Mr. Wilbur until EMS arrived and transported him to the hospital.  

Mr. Wilbur is currently at Maine Medical Center receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The underlying criminal investigation is being handled by the Wilton Police Department and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit. It is expected that Mr. Wilbur will be charged with several criminal offenses.

Trooper Andrew Hardy and Officer Cody Henry are being placed on administrative leave as is standard practice when deadly force is used by law enforcement. The Office of the Attorney General will be investigating the use of deadly force by law enforcement. Please direct all further inquiries to the Attorney General’s Office.

On Friday, July 11, 2025, at approximately 2:06 PM, Maine State Police received reports of a Toyota pickup truck operating erratically at high speeds on Interstate 95 southbound near mile marker 190 in Orono.

Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle near mile marker 182, but the driver refused to pull over and continued southbound at excessive speeds. The vehicle was travelling erratically in both lanes of traffic, posing a significant danger to other motorists. Troopers coordinated a response that included the deployment of spike mats. The pursuit ended near exit 130 in Waterville when the driver struck spike mats and crashed into a tree off Main Street .

The driver was identified as 39-year-old Nathaniel Porter of Crystal. He was taken into custody and transported to Thayer Hospital for an evaluation. Porter is facing multiple charges, including Criminal Speed, Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer, Operating Under the Influence, and Failure to Submit to Arrest. Main Street was briefly closed while emergency crews and law enforcement secured the scene.  

On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, shortly before 3:30 PM, Troop F Troopers responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash on Caribou Road in Cross Lake. The initial investigation determined that 60-year-old Milan Bogdanovic of Fort Kent, was traveling south on Caribou Road in a 2018 Ford Expedition. At the same time, 87-year-old Norman Daigle of Cross Lake Township, was also traveling south on an ATV access route along Caribou Road in his 2023 Polaris Ranger side-by-side.

Daigle’s side-by-side entered the roadway in Bogdanovic’s travel lane. Bogdanovic attempted to avoid the side-by-side but was unable to do so, and the two vehicles collided. Daigle was ejected from the side-by-side and sustained serious injuries. He was transported by ambulance to Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent. He was later transported via LifeFlight to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for further treatment. Daigle remains in critical condition. Bogdanovic was not injured in the crash.

Troopers were assisted on scene by the Presque Isle Police Department and the North Lakes Fire Department. The investigation is active and ongoing.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the Bangor Regional Communications Center received multiple calls reporting a horse wandering along I-95. The horse was first spotted in the northbound breakdown lane near mile marker 145, running with traffic. It then crossed through the median and entered the southbound lanes, where just after 3:00 AM, Troopers from Troop I located it running in the passing lane near mile marker 143 in Burnham. Using a rope, Troopers were able to safely secure the horse and tie it to the push bumper of a cruiser. Although frightened, the horse was not injured. The owner, who lives nearby on Snake Root Road in Pittsfield, quickly arrived on scene. It appears the horse had wandered off during the night without the owner’s knowledge. With the assistance of Animal Control Officer Russell Craft, the horse was loaded onto a trailer and safely transported home.

*Pictured in the photo are Trooper Andrew Peterson (left) and Specialist Haley Fleming (right). Trooper Dan Murray, who is not pictured, also played a key role in ensuring the horse’s safety and helping return it to its owner. We also want to thank the members of the public who stopped to assist Troopers in getting the horse under control.

On Saturday, July 5, 2025, at approximately 7:05 PM, Maine State Police Troop I Troopers responded to a report of a  motorcycle crash on the northbound on-ramp to I-95 at mile marker 133 in Fairfield.

Upon arrival, Troopers found a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle on its side. Bystanders were attempting first aid on the operator, who sustained life-threatening injuries after striking a guardrail. The operator, identified as 40-year-old Kyle Trull of Bangor, was initially transported to Maine General Medical Center in Waterville before being flown by Lifeflight to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Trull is currently listed in critical condition.

The initial investigation indicates that speed was likely a contributing factor in the crash. Trull was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. The crash remains under investigation.

On Thursday, July 3, 2025, at approximately 1:05 AM, Maine Game Wardens were called to assist the Union Fire Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in the search for a missing paddleboarder on Crawford Pond in Union. During the course of the search, an adult female was located deceased. Based on the circumstances surrounding the discovery, Wardens requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central.

The deceased has been identified as 48-year-old Sunshine Stewart of Tenants Harbor. An autopsy was performed on Thursday, July 3, 2025, by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. The manner of death was determined to be homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time. Anyone who may have seen Sunshine Stewart paddleboarding on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM near 100 Acre Island on Crawford Pond is asked to contact the Maine State Police at 207.624.7076. This is an active and ongoing investigation.

As always, members of the public are encouraged to remain aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement. Additional information will be released when it becomes appropriate to do so based on the progress of the investigation.

On Thursday, July 3, 2025, at approximately 1:05 AM, Maine Game Wardens were called to assist the Union Fire Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in the search for a missing paddleboarder on Crawford Pond in Union. During the course of the search, an adult female was located deceased. Based on the circumstances surrounding the discovery, Wardens requested the assistance of the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central. Detectives and Evidence Response Technicians have spent the day investigating the death.

The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death. This is an active and ongoing investigation.

Additional information will be released when it becomes appropriate to do so based on the progress of the investigation.

If you witnessed a woman paddleboarding between 6 PM - 9 PM near 100 Acre Island at Crawford Pond in Union, please contact us at 207.624.7076.

On Thursday, July 3, 2025, at approximately 9:06 AM, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a 911 call from a woman in Winterport, reporting that her boyfriend had assaulted her. She told dispatchers she was barricaded in a bathroom with her 9-year-old son inside a residence on S Main Street in Winterport. The caller indicated that her boyfriend had access to firearms and was under the influence of drugs.

The woman and her son were able to safely exit the residence. The child was not injured, and the woman sustained minor injuries. Multiple attempts were made to contact the male subject, but those efforts were initially unsuccessful.

After a short period of time, the man exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. He was identified as 43-year-old Joshua Martin, who resides at the S Main Street address.

Martin was transported to the Waldo County Jail and charged with Domestic Violence Assault, Creating a Police Standoff, and Violating Conditions of Release. Maine State Police were assisted by the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine Forest Service, and the Maine Marine Patrol.