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Maine authorities provide update on Stefanie Damron case after recent 3-day search

Maine authorities provide update on Stefanie Damron case after recent 3-day search
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      Maine authorities provide update on Stefanie Damron case after recent 3-day search
      Approximately 60 people participated in a three-day search for Stefanie Damron, a Maine teenager who has been missing for more than seven months.Authorities had announced they would be searching the New Sweden area for Stefanie from Friday through Sunday. That search included personnel from the Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, FBI, numerous volunteer search-and-rescue organizations and support teams using drones, K9s and horses.A Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson said Monday that the recent search did not result in any new developments, but that detectives will continue to actively investigate Stefanie's disappearance and follow up on any new leads.Stefanie, who turned 14 after she went missing, was last seen walking out of her family's home on Sept. 23, 2024, and into the woods located on West Road. She was reported missing by her family the following day.Authorities said Stefanie did not have a cellphone and did not take any electronic devices with her when she walked out of her house."This behavior has not been uncommon for Stefanie, which is why I think the family waited a little bit of time, gave her a little bit of time, before calling the police immediately," Maine State Police Major Scott Gosselin said in December 2024.The Maine Warden Service and Maine State Police K9 Unit previously searched large parcels of land near Stefanie's last known location in northeastern Aroostook County.Following the recent three-day effort, an estimated 4,500 acres have been searched since Stefanie was reported missing.Authorities said investigators have also conducted dozens of interviews and followed up on leads in Maine, nationally and in Canada. Police said the MSP Major Crimes Unit has been investigating the case in partnership with the FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team.On Dec. 2, 2024, the FBI announced it is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to Stefanie's safe return and/or the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance.Stefanie is 5 feet tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds, according to police. She has green eyes and had shoulder-length brown hair when she was last seen. Police said Stefanie was wearing blue jeans, a long-sleeve blue shirt and black Harley Davidson hiking boots when she went missing.Authorities initially shared two photographs of Stefanie, one that was taken this summer and another that was taken in 2022.On Nov. 21, police shared two additional pictures of Stefanie that appear to show her when she was younger.Anyone with any information regarding Stefanie's whereabouts should call the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1-800-924-2261 or 207-532-5400. People can also call the FBI's toll-free tip line at 1-800-225-5324 or contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.New Sweden is a rural community of about 575 people located 310 miles north of Portland, but Stefanie's disappearance has attracted media attention from as far away as Europe. Tips have come in regarding the case from other states and Canada, and authorities are following up on those, police said.The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has been notified, which is standard procedure whenever a minor goes missing or there could be an issue in the home, police said.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

      Approximately 60 people participated in a three-day search for Stefanie Damron, a Maine teenager who has been missing for more than seven months.

      Authorities had announced they would be searching the New Sweden area for Stefanie from Friday through Sunday. That search included personnel from the Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, FBI, numerous volunteer search-and-rescue organizations and support teams using drones, K9s and horses.

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      A Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson said Monday that the recent search did not result in any new developments, but that detectives will continue to actively investigate Stefanie's disappearance and follow up on any new leads.

      Stefanie, who turned 14 after she went missing, was last seen walking out of her family's home on Sept. 23, 2024, and into the woods located on West Road. She was reported missing by her family the following day.

      Authorities said Stefanie did not have a cellphone and did not take any electronic devices with her when she walked out of her house.

      "This behavior has not been uncommon for Stefanie, which is why I think the family waited a little bit of time, gave her a little bit of time, before calling the police immediately," Maine State Police Major Scott Gosselin said in December 2024.

      The Maine Warden Service and Maine State Police K9 Unit previously searched large parcels of land near Stefanie's last known location in northeastern Aroostook County.

      Following the recent three-day effort, an estimated 4,500 acres have been searched since Stefanie was reported missing.

      Authorities said investigators have also conducted dozens of interviews and followed up on leads in Maine, nationally and in Canada. Police said the MSP Major Crimes Unit has been investigating the case in partnership with the FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team.

      On Dec. 2, 2024, the FBI announced it is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to Stefanie's safe return and/or the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance.

      Stefanie is 5 feet tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds, according to police. She has green eyes and had shoulder-length brown hair when she was last seen. Police said Stefanie was wearing blue jeans, a long-sleeve blue shirt and black Harley Davidson hiking boots when she went missing.

      Authorities initially shared two photographs of Stefanie, one that was taken this summer and another that was taken in 2022.

      Stefanie Damron, 14, of New Sweden, Maine, has been missing since Sept. 23, 2024. The photo on the left was taken in the summer of 2024, while the photo on the right was taken in 2022.
      Maine State Police
      Stefanie Damron, 14, of New Sweden, Maine, has been missing since Sept. 23, 2024. The photo on the left was taken in the summer of 2024, while the photo on the right was taken in 2022.

      On Nov. 21, police shared two additional pictures of Stefanie that appear to show her when she was younger.

      Maine State Police officials shared these additional photos of Stefanie Damron, a girl who was last seen on Sept. 23, 2024, on Nov. 21, 2024. Police said these photos appear to show 14-year-old Stefanie when she was younger.
      Maine State Police
      Maine State Police officials shared these additional photos of Stefanie Damron, a girl who was last seen on Sept. 23, 2024, on Nov. 21, 2024. Police said these photos appear to show 14-year-old Stefanie when she was younger.

      Anyone with any information regarding Stefanie's whereabouts should call the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1-800-924-2261 or 207-532-5400. People can also call the FBI's toll-free tip line at 1-800-225-5324 or contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

      New Sweden is a rural community of about 575 people located 310 miles north of Portland, but Stefanie's disappearance has attracted media attention from as far away as Europe. Tips have come in regarding the case from other states and Canada, and authorities are following up on those, police said.

      The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has been notified, which is standard procedure whenever a minor goes missing or there could be an issue in the home, police said.

      Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.