BRUNSWICK, Maine — Local police on Tuesday confirmed the identify of a man whose body was discovered Dec. 22 near train tracks along Bath Road.
The body of Raymond Graebe, 79, of Brunswick and formerly of New York was discovered hanging from a tree in a wooded area, Detective Sgt. Martin Rinaldi said Tuesday afternoon.
Rinaldi said the state medical examiner’s office ruled the cause of death as suicide by hanging.
Graebe left his apartment building in Brunswick sometime in October after giving away his belongings, Rinaldi said. He was not seen again until Dec. 22.
Brunswick police went just after noon that day to an area near Merrymeeting Plaza, where a man reported finding the body near a small campsite along the tracks.
Police found no identification and initially estimated that the man was in his 40s, but later revised that, saying he likely was 50 to 65 years old.
Detectives later said they found a urinary catheter strapped to his leg.
After receiving a tip, detectives interviewed several residents who were able to provide enough details that police tentatively identified the man, Deputy Chief Marc Hagan said last week.
Rinaldi commended Brunswick detectives for ‘a great job” following up on more than 30 leads, ultimately obtaining a DNA sample that the medical examiner matched to samples provided.
Poor, poor old fella! Sad tale.
Sad. Poor man.
huh? @ 79 he was able to hang himself? are they positive about that???
At 85 my father in law still has his own electrician business and works at it several days per week, plus snow blows his yard and mows lawns in the summer. Age has nothing to do with it really.
This story reminds me of why I live in Maine and the strong sense of community.
Looking out for each other, eh?
We are all here speculating…but just maybe this old man..who grew up in a far different world then it is now,was a proud man.He might not have wanted to burden anyone and used what strength he had…to do what he felt he had to do.R.I.P.
….
Sad… The thing is, and my beliefs of course, is, he was almost at the crossing point in his life, to the next plane. Now, because he hastened the process…. he’s going to have to in his next lifetime, get to the similar point and circumstances that drove him to suicide, and, try and work through it….and learn…whatever he was meant to. What a waste…. so close. Sad…