JEFFERSON, Maine — The Maine State Police criminal investigation unit excavated human remains believed to be long-missing Charles E. “Chuck” Woodburn at 219 Neck Road in Jefferson on Aug. 27.
Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said the state medical examiner’s office has reported that the individual was a victim of a homicide.
Woodburn was born Dec. 4, 1951, and last seen alive in 2002, according to McCausland.
Woodburn was reported missing to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in 2010. McCausland said he may have been reported missing to the Waldoboro Police Department in 2004.
Woodburn was married to Diane Darling Woodburn at the time.
“As far as we know, she never reported him missing,” McCausland said
Diane Darling Woodburn died Aug. 7, 2010. According to the state police website, Charles Woodburn was reported missing by a former stepson on Sept. 2, 2010, 16 days after Diane Woodburn’s death.
“We are not talking about a suspect. We discovered the body just one week ago. We are not releasing details of the investigation,” McCausland said.
According to McCausland, the body was found buried in the yard. “We received a tip that the body was buried there,” McCausland said. Two dogs were brought in, one from the Maine State Police and one from the Maine Warden Service. State police, using an excavator, discovered the remains where the dogs indicated.
State Police are re-interviewing family and friends to “try to retrace [Charles Woodburn’s] steps,” McCausland said.
Diane Woodburn remarried Robert “Bob” Gaudette, and they resided at 219 Neck Road. There are two houses and a trailer on the property.