A vigil occurred on Saturday for a teenager from northern Maine who has been missing for nearly three months, garnering international media coverage.
Stefanie Damron, 14, from New Sweden, Maine, was reported missing by her family on September 24, one day after the then-13-year-old was last observed leaving her home and heading into the nearby woods on West Road. Authorities have indicated that extensive searches and interviews have not led to her discovery.
“Stefanie’s family is extremely concerned for her welfare, as are we,” stated Maine State Police Major Scott Gosselin during a press conference on December 2. “Currently, there have been no credible leads or sightings of Stefanie.”
Stefanie, who is homeschooled and limits her social media use, stands at 5 feet tall, weighs 130 lbs, has green eyes, and shoulder-length brown hair. At the time of her disappearance, she was dressed in blue jeans, a blue long-sleeve shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots.
Family, friends, and community members gathered at the First Baptist Church of New Sweden on Saturday to share her story and observe a moment of silence, as reported by NBC10 Boston affiliate News Center Maine.
Stefanie Damron has been missing for two months after she entered the woods behind her home in New Sweden, Maine.
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State police, alongside the FBI, are actively searching for Stefanie across the U.S. and Canada, employing police dogs to cover large areas in Aroostook County where she was last seen. Authorities have conducted numerous interviews and dedicated hundreds of hours to the investigation, but still lack credible information or sightings of Stefanie.
The FBI announced earlier this month that it is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information that leads to Stefanie’s safe return or the arrest and prosecution of those involved in her disappearance. The FBI, in cooperation with the Maine State Police, hopes this reward will encourage individuals with information about the teen’s case to come forward.
“Stefanie’s family is in urgent need of answers regarding her whereabouts,” said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston division, during the December 2 press conference. “We are fully committed to aiding our law enforcement partners in utilizing every investigative resource to locate her and bring her back home.”
Maine State Police have mentioned that Stefanie’s behavior is not unusual for her, which is why her family delayed contacting authorities. Typically, she does not remain missing for extended periods, prompting officials to intensify their investigative efforts as time has passed without her return.
As of early December, investigators noted that all possibilities are still being explored, and no definitive leads have directed them towards a specific outcome.
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The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has been notified, which is standard protocol when a minor is missing or there could be concerns regarding their home environment, according to police, who did not elaborate on the agency’s role.
New Sweden is a rural community with approximately 575 residents, situated 310 miles north of Portland.
Stefanie’s case has attracted media attention from various regions, including Europe. Authorities have received tips from other states and Canada, which they are currently investigating, although no concrete leads have emerged thus far.
“We are seeking assistance from the public to help keep a lookout for Stefanie and to report any tips or information that could aid our investigation,” stated Gosselin.
“Any piece of information, however small, could be significant,” emphasized Kim Melka, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston office, during the FBI’s December 2 press briefing. “We assure you that we are committed to uncovering what happened to Stefanie and reuniting her with her loved ones.”
Anyone with information regarding Stefanie’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Maine State Police at 1-800-924-2261 or 207-532-5400. Tips can also be relayed to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.
The Associated Press contributed to this report