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A man has been arrested in the 2017 slaying of a Portland man.
Stephen Versluis Jr., 42, has been charged with murder in the death of 54-year-old Sunao Yamada, who also went by Tom, according to Brad Nadeau, a spokesperson for the Portland Police Department.
Yamada was found dead on Sept. 10, 2017, near Temple and Federal streets. The Maine medical examiner’s office ruled his death a homicide.
Versluis was arrested Wednesday and taken to the Cumberland County Jail, Nadeau said Thursday morning.
“This arrest represents a significant step toward justice for Tom and his loved ones,” Police Chief Mark Dubois said in a statement. “For nine years, our detectives remained steadfast in their commitment to this case, pursuing leads, re-examining evidence, and never losing sight of the importance of finding answers.”
He continued, “While this arrest cannot undo the loss, it brings us closer to the accountability and justice that Tom and his family deserve.”
The investigation is ongoing.
