Roughly a month after a Hampden man went missing, local police have handed over the lead role in the search to the state police major crimes unit.
Douglas Dunphy, 78, hasn’t been seen or heard from since early January, and Hampden police started investigating on Jan. 15.
Police found his white Ford Econoline van late last month, and Hampden police, state troopers and game wardens began a search of his Kennebec Road property Tuesday.
On Thursday, state police announced that Hampden police had agreed to allow the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-North to take lead on the investigation, “due to the complexity of the investigation.”
“Detectives are still gathering information and are not in a position to confirm that any crime has taken place,” state police spokesperson Shannon Moss said.
Dunphy typically wears a black Carhartt jacket and blue cap. He stands 5-foot-10, weighs 210 pounds and has green eyes and gray hair.
He retired in 2015 after 35 years as mechanical superintendent of the Bangor Daily News.
Anyone who has information about Dunphy’s whereabouts can call Maine State Police Detective Jennifer Fiske at 207-973-3700, ext. 9.
Information may also be submitted to the Major Crimes Unit–North via this online tip portal.