HERMON, Maine — Family and friends of Daniel Borders and Lucas “Luke” Tuscano gathered Saturday to remember the two men and share memories and stories.
More than 50 people attended an evening service for Borders at Hermon Baptist Church, where the church’s pastor, the Rev. Garnett Chute, advised the grieving family and friends to look to each other and their memories of Borders for strength.
Members of Borders’ family and longtime friends tearfully relayed memories of a loyal friend and loving father.
Borders’ 7-year-old daughter wrote a letter that was read aloud at the service. The girl said her daddy was the best daddy in the world and that she would never forget him.
“I’m so happy to have you as my angel watching over me at all times. I love you, Daddy,” the girl wrote.
Borders’ brother, James, also wrote a letter, which was read aloud by Chute during the service. In the letter, James mentioned a time when he was struggling with depression, which Daniel helped him through by taking him out to have fun and meet people. That’s how James met his wife.
“It feels like a nightmare that I’ve been trying to wake up from,” James wrote about the loss of his brother. “You were my best friend; we could tell each other anything; we were inseparable.”
During the service, Chute brought up Daniel Borders’ sometimes-troubled past. Chute said Borders struggled with drugs and alcohol, which eventually led to a prison sentence.
“We’re also here today to learn, to learn from these tragic choices and consequences,” Chute said.
While incarcerated, Borders began reading the Bible and began to turn over a new leaf. However, Borders regressed to his old ways after his release, Chute said.
“These very temporary pleasures will only bring bondage, brokenness, pain and death,” Chute told those who attended the service.
The family and friends of Lucas “Luke” Tuscano gathered at the Charleston Town Hall Saturday afternoon to remember the man who was about to become a father and who loved those around him with all his heart.
“Lucas made everybody happy,” his cousin Anita Jones of Connecticut said before the funeral that filled the town hall. “He made everybody smile.”
Tuscano, 28, Borders, 26, and Nicolle Lugdon, 24, of Eddington were found dead inside a white Pontiac with Rhode Island plates set ablaze in the back parking lot of a Bangor business. The funeral for Lugdon is Sunday afternoon.
“This is not just for our family, it’s for the other families too,” a woman standing outside Tuscano’s funeral said, adding she did not know Borders or Lugdon. “We have to grieve for them, too.”
The medical examiner has deemed their deaths a triple homicide, but are not releasing how Tuscano, Lugdon and Borders died. Their killer has yet to be arrested, Bangor police Sgt. Jim Buckley said Saturday afternoon.
Tuscano, Borders and Lugdon were at a small gathering in Bangor on Aug. 13 when an out-of-state man knocked on the door, reportedly looking for Borders. A short time later all three left with the man, who was driving a white Pontiac with Rhode Island plates.
“I don’t know what the hell happened after they left,” the man who hosted the gathering of only five people said last week. He and his family have since moved.
A woman on her way to work about 3:30 a.m. Aug. 13 discovered the white Pontiac with Rhode Island plates engulfed in flames in the back parking lot of Automatic Distributors, located at 22 Target Industrial Circle.
After the flames were extinguished, firefighters found the bodies of Lugdon, Borders and Tuscano, who reportedly were burned beyond recognition.
A person was seen on video surveillance tapes taken from Automatic Distributors walking away from the burning car, police have said.
Whether the person in the video is the same man who picked up the trio of friends is a question that police are trying to answer. Detectives have followed out-of-state leads, Bangor Sgt. Paul Edwards has said.
Maine State Police detectives were at Tuscano’s funeral Saturday and said they plan to attend the funerals of the other two victims as well.
Tuscano loved the outdoors, camping, mud runs, Bud Light and Country Gold Saturday Nights, his obituary states.
“He was a wonderful uncle and was excited to be a dad,” it states. “Luke couldn’t wait for the birth of his special little girl … and was so excited to finally meet her.”
His girlfriend, who is pregnant and due to give birth shortly, said, “He was the love of my life,” the day police released the identities of the homicide victims.
Tuscano’s cousin said she believes “he was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” and the family is devastated.
“It’s a very hard situation for all of us,” Jones said.
How tragic for the family, especially the baby who will grow up without her father.
All three had children, only one on the way. Three children will grow up without a parent. How do we respect actions when children suffer?
It is not about respecting the actions of the people. It is about respecting the fact that regardless of how the victims lived their lives, they were human beings who died in a senseless and tragic way. The children suffer the most, but will they suffer any less when people are constantly talking about how awful and basically worthless their parents were?
Maybe so.
No one wants to say anything about this. It is sad and obvious. We have to realize that we are not characters in a movie. Death by bad luck or bad decision is still death.
if it can happen in bangor it can happen where i am
That is exactly what I mean. It is easy to bad mouth Bangor but, every city and town has problems. The only difference is the real estate values of the surrounding areas. This stuff is everywhere.
well look at bangor it has turned to the worst… there is no reason whatsoever that I will ever hang out in bangor like i did back in college without at least knowing people again… and definitely staying away from Capehart/Airport Mall areas
Good for you! We can all breathe a sigh of relief that you are staying out of the Capehart/Airport Mall area.
There seems to be a ton of Bangor bashing lately with all that has gone on between bath salts and this tragedy. If you look at all the events that have made the news, how many are random acts? Not very many at all. I dare say 95% of the time, there is usually some association between the victim(s) and the perp. My point is, people need to be more concerned with the crowds they hang with and the dangers they are involved in. Overall, Bangor is very safe if you keep your nose clean.
To all – In addition to this article, we are soon going to read about the funeral services of the other two victims. I don’t think it’s any secret that the 3 deceased did not live perfect lives. Bottom line…. None of us have lived perfect lives.
I say we all call a ‘truce’ and understand that no matter what the circumstances were, we all show compassion for the friends and loved ones of Luke, Nicolle, and Daniel, as respect is paid to them. The debates can come later as we read with hopes of the crime victims getting caught and sentenced to long prison terms. Let’s let this one go. Anyone with me?
I assume you meant “truce”
Thanks.
I agree, no matter what they were, death in this case was senseless.
No. Only 50 people showed up at Dan’s funeral. Where were all the friends he had? Fair weather friends? You need to speak up instead of run and hide. He was there for you it sounds like.
Why have they tagged Dan’s funeral onto Luke’s? Bad enough he had to get hung up with Dan. Two different stories, keep them separate. You going to add Nicolle tomorrow to this very same article? They are all individuals who died….not triplets.
Well said. The past is just that, the past. We don’t live in the past, we live in the here and now. And those three where taken from their families far sooner than they should have been. Unfortunately there will be some know it all d-bag that comes on here and bad mouths the dead. It is a shame that thats what we have become as people.
tragedy for all involved and I hope they catch the flatlander responsible.
I am sick and tired of this flatlander talk. Will the folks that live in Maine ever be Mainers?
do you know something we don’t know? a “flatlander” is responsible????? maybe you should contact the police with your inside information.
Has anybody heard the name Greg Randall, bradford area in any of this?
My heart is broken for Lukes girlfriend and the mother of his child. She will have to go thru the birth and raise this little girl alone. My prayers to both of them.
Still waiting for the other town/city residents /public officials etc… to create a public forum like Howland.
Such a sad thing to happen. God Bless all of you.
All I have to say is this: each and every one of these victims were somebody’s mom, dad, son, daughter, cousin, friend, sister, brother, aunt, or uncle. Condolences to all. This is sad.
Its nice knowing that the Lord is available to all of us, especially during difficult times.
If such an outstanding father, why wasn’t Dan with his daughter at that time of night?
He was no longer with the mother of his child. No matter how good a parent he was, if he’s no longer with his child’s mother, there would have been some nights when he wasn’t with his child. That night sadly, was apparently one of them…
I think your comment was extremely cruel. If you had any concern for the daughter you most likely would not have made this comment. Also, it is disapponting to see that 13 members in the community liked this comment as well. Now, that she doesnt have a father perhaps you could some how be a support to her in anyway . Did it ever occur to you that maybe she reads these articles?
Did it occur to you that his daughter knows better than anyone just what kind of father he was, and nothing good or bad said here will change that?
I can only imagine what type of role model your are. Is there anything wrong with trying to be a support for the children? I hope to see a scholarship fund or something of the like implemented for the 3 children. I am sure she knows the bad and good. Whats wrong with positive?
I really like these baseball hats that have the brims on the side. Can someone explain to me where I can buy a hat like that? Every hat I see in the Bangor mall has the brim on the front…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY67XaX6oM8
^ Yes Yes Yes. That is exactly where my comments stemmed from (that and the picture in the article). Outstanding show. Stupid Stupid Stupid fashion trend. Everyone wants to be a gangsta.. well until they end up… nevermind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82Jg-Omwmo4&feature=related
Shows your intelligence, something so tragic happens and you’re worried about a hat? I wouldn’t wish what we are feeling even on you.
Cocaine is a helava drug
I am sad that these young people lived their lives in such a way that the three of them were ever in a place and time that this could happen to them. I do believe all things happen for a reason and hope that people who know the deceased and their families will accept that it does appear this was not a random act of violence against unknown persons. Each choice we make on a moment by moment basis shapes what actions people will take for and against us in the future. Make good choices, please.
“We’re also here today to learn, to learn from these tragic choices and consequences,” Rev. Garnett Chute said, referring to Daniel Border’s life.
The horror of this triple homicide in which three very young people were murdered and burned beyond recognition, is one of the most horrific examples of bad choices and their ultimate consequences.
Many families are left to mourn their tragic losses. Bangor and surrounding communities grieve with them, and deplore such an atrocity. Meanwhile, as police hunt the fiend or fiends responsible, our communities need to rally. We need to stand by the grieving families, assist them as much as possible to help ease their suffering.
We also need to rally behind a state wide war on illicit drugs. A learning process in which many could be diverted from being led up the garden path. The big problem, will of course, be: How many want to learn?
My heartfelt prayers and sympathies go out to all family and friends of these three young people. I cannot imagine the pain and sadness you all are enduring! Please know that there are people who do care and are standing beside you asking for justice for your lost loved ones. This is a tragedy, no matter what the circumstance, no one has the right to take a life!
please dont say ‘this could happen to anyone’. i have three kids in their 20s,living out of state, employed and alive. they never used drugs growing up is a major reason. thats the lesson that should be learned
Thankful for myself I had a mother to guide me in that direction too. However, I am the innocent friend of Nicolle Lugdon who is dealing with this tragedy so instead of bragging about how your kids are doing (which you’ll never know what they really are doing) spend your time feeling compassion for those who love them.
I pray that these three will not have died in vain. Together we all can give there short lives meaning and stop the violence in Bangor and in Maine. I also pray that the Police finds the person/persons that killed them and they are put into jail for the rest of their lives..
To the friends and family of all the victims, please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your loved one. May they rest in peace now.
“We also need to rally behind a state wide war on illicit drugs. A learning process in which many could be diverted from being led up the garden path.”
Or you could grow up. Are you f…ng kidding? The federal war on drugs hasn’t failed enough for you? Let’s bring the state in and see if more government is the answer to drug problems. I can’t help people like you
Since when does a statewide learning process from this incident require the government to get involved? I assume you’d prefer this sort of thing not happen to our young people, but you don’t say how you’d achieve that? I think learning from this incident could help many young people choose a different path, AWAY from illicit and dangerous drugs.