BAILEYVILLE, Maine — The body of a man found Wednesday along with a vehicle in the St. Croix River has been identified as that of a Canadian man, according to local police.
In a press release issued Friday morning, Baileyville Police Chief Shawn Donohue indicated that the dead man is Kenneth Lee, 60, of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, located directly across the river in Canada.
Lee was reported missing March 18 along with the vehicle that was found submerged Wednesday in a wide, flowage section of the river off Track Road, about 700 feet out from shore. The vehicle is a 1993 Toyota Camry, Donohue said.
A passer-by spotted the vehicle in the river Wednesday morning and reported it to the local police and fire departments, which determined the vehicle had been in the water for some time, according to the release. The Police Department then contacted the Maine Warden Service dive team for assistance.
Just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, divers found the vehicle and, a “very short” time later, Lee’s body also was found, the release indicated. The body was removed and taken to Mays Funeral Home in Calais before being taken to the medical examiner’s office in Augusta on Friday, April 20, for an autopsy.
Citing the open investigation, Donohue declined to say where, in relation to the submerged Toyota, Lee’s body was found.
Donohue said the Baileyville Police Department will work closely with the St. Stephen detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police during the investigation, which is ongoing. He indicated that there does not appear to be any foul play involved.
The Baileyville Police Department was assisted by the Baileyville Fire Department, Maine Warden Service, U.S. Border Patrol, Maine State Police and Downeast EMS, according to the release.
That’s a sad incident.
I wonder what got him out into the middle of the river. Is there an old dirt road crossing the border there?
Yup. I was wondering the same thing.
It’s hard to say without knowing what the currents in that river were like since he went missing. maybe somebody local to that area can tell us.
That area of the river isn’t tidal, there is some flow because there is a dam upstream and one at the mill in Baileyville. There is a boat landing up in that area, not sure if that’s where he was found or not but could be a way into the river. Very sad situation. Condolences to his family.
I just now heard that Kenny had been found. I’m thankful for that for the sake of his family. It has been an anxious time. Maxine Lee