If you or someone you know needs resources or support related to sexual violence, contact the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s 24/7 hotline at 800-871-7741.
The Hampden adult care home where employees were allegedly “physically and emotionally torturing” two men did not do enough to protect its residents, according to a lawsuit filed this week by a man who was told that his son was also abused while in the facility’s care.
The man’s son, who lived at a Lee Residential Care home from 2015 to July 2019, was also likely a victim of horrific abuse at the facility, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Penobscot County Superior Court. The father, Eric McCue, filed it on behalf of his 28-year-old son, who died in January 2024.
Law enforcement told McCue in January 2025 that his son likely experienced “physical, emotional, and sexual abuse” while at a Lee Residential Care facility, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is the first indication that the “grotesque and pervasive” abuse at Lee may have been more widespread than was previously known. Four Lee employees were criminally charged in 2023 for abusing two residents; two of the employees pleaded guilty in 2024 while the others have cases pending.
The lawsuit alleges Lee Residential provided negligent supervision, failed to stop assaults against McCue’s son, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, breached its fiduciary duty, fraudulently concealed information and has vicarious liability.
McCue is the first person to file a lawsuit against the facility. His attorney was unavailable for comment.
Lee Residential CEO Karen Lee did not respond to a request for comment.
Zachary Conners, described as the ringleader in court records, started working at Lee in 2017, and by 2018 McCue’s son started displaying more aggressive behavior that was documented by staff, the lawsuit said. McCue’s son left Lee in July 2019.
In 2022, a Lee staff member reported the abuse happening to the two other men and a police investigation started. No one contacted McCue during that investigation and he did not hear from law enforcement until January 2025, the lawsuit said.
It’s unknown which law enforcement agency may be investigating the alleged assaults. The Maine attorney general’s office “cannot confirm the existence of or comment on any investigation,” a spokesperson said.
A Lee employee told Maine State Adult Protective Services in October 2024 that they witnessed staff manipulate McCue’s son “into performing oral sex on another resident in exchange for pizza,” the lawsuit said. Two staff members already in the room told McCue’s son, “You want pizza, keep going.”
Staff found it humorous that the oral sex lasted until the other person orgasmed, the lawsuit said.
“The staff witness did not report the incident of sexual abuse to Lee Residential Care, LLC, offices or supervisors,” the lawsuit said.
Lee Residential failed to keep McCue’s son safe, allowing him to be physically and emotionally abused, and failed to train staff about reporting abuse, according to the lawsuit. Had Eric known about the abuse, he would have removed his son from the facility, it added.
No court dates are scheduled.
