Teen Vanished Into the Woods More Than 2 Months Ago. Now Investigators Are Hoping a Reward Gets the Public to Talk

Mar. 15, 2025

Stefanie Damron.Photo:Maine State Police

Maine State Police

Stefanie, 14, was reported missing on Sept. 24, a day after she “was last seen walking out of her house and into the woods located on the West Road in New Sweden,” according to theMaine State Police(MSP).

Stefanie Damron.Maine State Police

On Monday, Dec. 2, the FBI and MSP announced the reward of up to $15,000 as they seek the public’s help for information leading to Stefanie’s safe return or the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance.

“The FBI hopes this reward will incentivize anyone with information relating to Stefanie’s whereabouts to come forward. Any detail, no matter how small, could be helpful,” Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said in anews release. “Stefanie’s family desperately wants to know where she is, and we are fully committed to helping our law enforcement partners exhaust every investigative resource to find her and bring her home.”

The FBI and MSP also held ajoint news conference about the caseon Dec. 2. Maj. Scott Gosselin of the MSP said that his department’s major crimes unit detectives and the FBI Boston Division spent hundreds of hours looking into Damron’s disappearance and conducted numerous interviews.

“At this time,” said Gosselin, “there’s been no credible information or sightings of Stefanie.”

Kim Milka, the FBI assistant special agent in charge, added that investigators have followed leads in Maine, across the country and Canada. Among authorities’ investigative efforts included a neighborhood canvas and an expansive grid search involving canines, she said.

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“Rest assured, we are working to find out what happened to Stefanie and reunite her with her family,” Milka said at the press conference.

On Nov. 21, the MSP shared two new photos of Stefanie to aid in the search.

“These photos appear to show a younger Stefanie - the most recent photo we have is the one we’ve posted previously with the flower in her hair (from Summer 2024),” the MSP wrote at the time in aFacebook post.

In their previous statement, Stefanie’s parents said they were not present at home when their daughter went missing.

“We live a half mile back in the woods and our kids are very comfortable in their surroundings so there was nothing to raise flags the first few hours,” they said at the time.

At the news conference, Gosselin said that, based on authorities’ knowledge, Damron has no current access to electronic devices, later adding she did not have a cellphone at the time of her disappearance.

Gosselin also told reporters that going missing is not an uncommon behavior for Stefanie, and he believes that is why her family waited a little longer until they contacted police.

The FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team (CARD) of special agents trained and experienced in matters concerning missing children was immediately summoned to help MSP find the teen after she disappeared, noted the news release.

“The Maine State Police remains steadfast in our investigation into Stefanie’s disappearance,” Maine State Police Colonel William Ross said in the Dec. 2 news release. “Every lead, no matter how small is being thoroughly pursued to find her. We deeply appreciate the FBI’s support as we continue to urge anyone with information to come forward. Your tip could be the key to resolving this case and providing answers for Stefanie’s family.”

Those with information about the case are encouraged to call the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1-800-824-2261 or 207-532-5400 or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

source: people.com