MONSON, Maine — Law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies spent much of Monday searching four towns in Piscataquis County for a local man wanted by police in connection with the homicide of his ex-girlfriend last week.
The search for Robert Burton, 38, who is wanted for murder, was expected to continue into the night, Maine State Police Lt. Troy Gardner said from a command post set up at the Parkman Town Office. As of 5:45 p.m., more than 40 law enforcement vehicles were parked at the command post.
Much of the focus was on North Guilford Road in Monson, which is where Burton’s father and other family members live and where law enforcement found a stolen truck they believe Burton was driving.
Burton is considered to be armed and dangerous, and state police advised area residents to lock their homes and vehicles and report any suspicious activity, Gardner said.
“The person involved in this investigation is pretty much capable of anything,” Gardner said. “We don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”
He said they believe Burton is armed because he had access to weapons.
An arrest warrant for Burton was issued by the attorney general’s office early Monday.
Burton is wanted in connection with the death of Stephanie Ginn Gebo, 37, whose body was discovered Friday in her Parkman home. Police said Burton had been living in the home until a week before Ginn Gebo’s death. State police have released no details about how she died.
Gardner said he was not surprised that Burton may still be in the area. Police found Burton’s black Toyota Tacoma pickup truck Monday along Bridge Road in Parkman. Police believe a pickup truck stolen in Guilford overnight Sunday and found Monday near the residence of Roger Burton, Robert Burton’s father, in Monson was taken by Burton.
“There is no way to predict human behavior, but often time people stay close to family and resources, especially if they are going to need help,” Gardner said.
Burton has not had any contact with his family, “that we are aware of,” he added.
The state police, Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office officials, Maine Forest Service and Maine Warden Service personnel searched buildings and camps near the homes of Burton’s father and other relatives on North Guilford Road in Monson, which is where Maine Forest Ranger Doug Huettner found the stolen pickup truck owned by an Abbot construction firm.
According to the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office, the truck was stolen from School Street in Guilford.
At about 3:45 p.m. Monday, a tow truck removed a white pickup truck with Herrick Construction of Abbot advertising from the end of Burton’s father’s driveway. Red and white evidence tape was visible on the vehicle, which was expected to be taken to the crime lab in Augusta for examination.
A woman who answered the phone Monday at the home of Roger Burton declined to comment.
North Guilford Road reopened to traffic just before 4 p.m. soon after the stolen pickup was removed.
Search dogs and a Maine Forest Service helicopter were used to look for Robert Burton in Monson, Abbot, Guilford and Parkman. There are many camps in the area.
Police have said the relationship between Burton and Ginn Gebo concluded a week before her death.
A relative of Burton, who asked not to be identified, said Monday that family members don’t know what happened to Ginn Gebo.
“We won’t know until they catch him,” the relative said.
The person asked not to be identified out of fear of “retribution” from Burton.
Ginn Gebo was born in Derby, Connecticut, and is the daughter of Vance Ginn of Abbott and Christine Knapp of Plymouth, her obituary states.
She is survived by her two children; her brother, Jacob Ginn of Parkman; uncles; aunts; nieces; nephews and many other close friends.
Burton’s long rap sheet includes convictions for kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, terrorizing, assault, tampering with a witness, trafficking in prison contraband and several violations of conditions of release. He has used the aliases Robert Elliot and Robert Glen Elliott.
He eluded police for two weeks in 2002 before being found in a camp in Willimantic, where a standoff ensued. He was arrested, convicted and eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Anyone who sees Burton is advised to call state police in Bangor at 973-3700, or 911.