PARKMAN, Maine — A local man wanted for murder in connection with the death of his ex-girlfriend in Piscataquis County earlier this month was spotted in Guilford late Wednesday afternoon, state police said.
Robert Burton, 38, who has evaded capture for nearly two weeks, was sighted at about 5:45 p.m. by a local resident along a Guilford snowmobile trail, Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland confirmed Thursday.
“Burton was seen stepping onto the trail from the woods, saw the other man and then quickly disappeared back into the woods,” McCausland said.
The sighting was near the Low’s Covered Bridge along the state’s Interconnected Trail System near Route 15, the spokesman said.
The owner of Rockwell Gardens, which is about a mile from the historic covered bridge, said she and others in town are very concerned with the recent sighting of Burton.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” Joanne Mee said. “It’s nerve-wracking for everybody, especially now that school’s out.”
Mee has three young children. She said she made the decision not to tell them that a wanted murderer is on the loose in the area, but added that her children, and other students in town, were instructed at school to be wary of strangers before they were released for the summer.
Mee said she is taking precautions to keep her family safe, and acknowledged that with the increased police presence in town, “I know my oldest knows about it.”
The local business owner said that everyone in the region will be on pins and needles until Burton is caught.
“That would be good,” Mee said.
Burton is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Stephanie Ginn Gebo, 37, whose body was discovered by her two children on June 5 in her Parkman home. They are staying with their maternal grandparents, and a family friend has set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for their care.
“I knew he would start getting careless,” a family member of Ginn Gebo, who asked not to be identified, said Thursday in an email about Burton being spotted. “Can’t wait until he’s caught!!”
Low’s Covered Bridge is 11.6 miles north by road from Ginn Gebo’s home in Parkman, and about 3.4 miles west of Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft.
Burton was spotted wearing camouflage clothing and was carrying a dark-colored backpack, McCausland said. State police spent several hours Wednesday night searching for him, but he remains on the loose.
McCausland said police continue to search for Burton, and are using the basement of the Parkman Town Office as a command post.
Burton, who has a long history of domestic violence offenses, is considered armed and dangerous. Residents are urged to lock houses, vehicles and outbuildings.
Anyone who sees Burton is urged to call state police in Bangor at 973-3700 or call 911.
BDN reporter Nok-Noi Ricker contributed to this story.
