AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine State Police hope a novel approach to solving cold cases that’s been successful in other states will lead to tips — and answers for families who have been waiting decades for information.
The Unsolved Homicide Unit is issuing playing cards to inmates at prisons across the state that feature photos and information about homicides and missing persons cases.
The hope is that someone, somewhere will provide information vital to solving the crime, said Maine State Police Detective Cpl. Michael Chavez.
Chavez said he hopes that a prisoner will “realize that perhaps their former roommate was actually telling the truth about a case they’ve been talking about or may have been personally involved and have a pivotal moment in which they want to talk about a case.”
The state police have 69 unsolved homicides dating back to 1954 and more than 20 long-term suspicious missing persons cases, Chavez said.
Season of Justice, a nonprofit that provides funding to help solve cold cases, paid for the cards. The cards have been used in more than 15 states and have led to valuable tips, Chavez said. Some of those states have issued second edition cards to spread information about additional cases.
“It’s our hopes that this breaks free some information in a population that otherwise doesn’t have normal access to social media outlets, newspapers, blogs,” he said. “Just another means for us to harvest some tips from a unique population.”
State police chose the 52 cases to highlight, some at random and others that have been well publicized. Within the next year or two, they will issue another set of cards featuring different cases, Chavez said.
One of the cards shows photos of Lorna Brackett and Vincent White, both of whom died after an explosion and a fire at a home on Reservoir Street in Waterville in 1991. They were last seen at the U.S.A. Lounge in Fairfield the night before the fire and their deaths were ruled a homicide.
Another highlights the case of Marilyn Lehan, who was last seen living in Eastport in the summer of 2002.
“Investigative efforts have not produced any alternate addresses or an indication that she is living at another location,” according to state police.
Chavez said he worked with the Department of Corrections to set up an easy way for them to notify police if they get any solid leads.
In a statement, Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty said he hopes the initiative helps solve the cases.
“These cards will help keep victims’ stories alive, and we hope they generate information that leads to prosecution,” Liberty said.
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