NORTH WATERBORO, Maine — A nine-day search for a North Waterboro teen came to a tragic end Saturday when Maine Game Wardens found the body of Jaden Dremsa, 15.
Investigators say boaters on Lake Arrowhead saw what they thought was a body and contacted the Maine Warden Service.
Officials confirmed the body was that of Jaden Dremsa. His body was taken to the medical examiner’s office in Augusta.
Dremsa was reported missing May 8 when he left his home off Route 5 and went for a walk in the woods.
It’s not clear how the 15-year-old ended up in the water, but wardens say it’s likely the teen had been in the water since he went missing.
“It’s not the outcome that we wanted,” said Peter Herring of the Maine Warden Service. “We never want this as an outcome, but we are glad if nothing else to finally give the family some closure on this.”
Jennifer Howard, Jaden’s mother, posted to her Facebook page Saturday afternoon confirming her son’s body was found. Howard wrote, “I am so sorry to have to post this. They just a little while ago found my sweet Jaden in the water. Jaden is gone.”
Maine wardens and hundreds of volunteers had spent the past nine days searching miles of land and water for the teen.
Howard posted, “It wasn’t for lack of trying or lack of love that we hadn’t found Jaden yet, that is for sure. I never realized what a great community that I lived in until these last 9 days. Thank you once again.”
An online fund has been set up to help pay for Jaden’s funeral.