ROME, Maine — Tools were stolen over the weekend from the construction site at the retreat founded by Travis Mills, according to the veteran’s foundation.
Workers with Above and Beyond LLC, which is overseeing construction at the Travis Mills Foundation Maine Chance Veterans Retreat in Rome, discovered Monday that a substantial number of power tools were missing, a news release from the foundation said.
“I’m disgusted at the thought someone would enter the property of the foundation and steal from the very people who are helping to make sure we are on schedule to begin hosting veteran families from across the country next summer,” Mills said. “To steal from people, especially when they are doing good things for our veterans, is unconscionable.”
Mills is a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant who as a member of the 82nd Airborne was critically wounded in 2012 while serving his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. Mills also is a motivational speaker and advocate for veterans and amputees.
The foundation last year purchased the historic Maine Chance Lodge originally built in 1929 by cosmetic pioneer, Elizabeth Arden. The lodge was the nation’s first elite spa dedicated to serving celebrities. It is being renovated and will become a fully accessible retreat for combat-injured veterans and their families.
The retreat will be uniquely designed to provide state-of-the-art “smart home” technology in a comfortable lodge setting for relaxation, adaptive sports and family recreation.
Maine State Police are investigating the theft, the news release said. An estimated value of the tools was not released Monday.
It was the second time in two years that tools have been stolen from one of Mills’ building sites. In April 2014, tools were stolen from the construction site of Mill’s home in Manchester, according to a central Maine newspaper.
An Augusta man and woman were arrested and charged with burglary and theft a few day after the tools were stolen.
Tiffany Fitzpatrick, 28, was sentenced a year later to 9 months in jail after pleading guilty to the crime, the newspaper reported. Clinton U. Bates, 39, was sentenced in September 2015 to five years in prison in connection with the break-in at Mills’ house, according to information posted on the Department of Corrections website.
Bates, who is incarcerated at the Maine State Prison in Warren, also was sentenced to nine years on a probation revocation for an earlier crime. He is not due to be released until February 2026.
In May 2015, $15,000 intended as seed money for a benefit concert for Mills’ foundation was stolen from the Augusta Elks Lodge. Three men, Taylor Schultz, 34, of Biddeford, Michael J. Warner II, 37, of Freeport and Charles York 38, of Portland, have been charged with burglary, theft by unauthorized taking, aggravated criminal mischief and criminal mischief in connection with the break-in.
The trio also was charged in Cumberland County in connection with 25 break-ins at businesses. The status of their cases was not available Monday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the theft at the retreat site should email Sgt. Alden Bustard at alden.e.bustard@maine.gov.