ME ME - Stefanie Damron, 13, New Sweden, 24 Sep 2024

[Taffy550]

When was she last seen by someone that wasnt family or family friend?

 

[Alleykins]

When was she last seen by someone that wasnt family or family friend?

I'm curious, and asked myself, about that, too.

 

[ExitMusic]

Just hearing about this case. I hope she is found safe.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Reward offered for missing New Sweden teen has resulted in ‘more than a dozen’ new tips

In December, the FBI announced a $15,000 reward for information regarding the missing teen. The Maine Department of Public Safety confirms that this reward has resulted in new tips.

www.wagmtv.com

*****
In December, the FBI announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to Damron’s safe return, or information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance.

Monday, the Maine Department of Public Safety confirmed that more than a dozen tips have come in since the reward was announced. The department also stated that detectives are still following up on leads in this case.

*****

 

[Parsnip]

1/7/25

“Lisa says she began receiving text messages at around 3:00 p.m. from her eldest daughter that Stefanie had left the house. “Sometimes when, you know, she gets upset or just wants to be left alone, she would go out in the woods,” she said. “They went out looking for her and stuff. They couldn’t find her.”

According to Lisa, Stefanie had gotten into an argument with her older sister about chores before she ran off. “They were arguing about who was gonna do what,” she explained.

After the argument, Stefanie went outside where her grandfather was doing maintenance work on the front door. “He said that she turned around, she looked back at him — she had tears in her eyes,” Lisa said. “And she turned around and just kept walking.””

Teen Stefanie Damron missing from New Sweden, Maine, since September 2024 | Dateline

The 13-year-old walked into the woods behind her home on September 23, 2024. She was reported missing the next day.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Parsnip]

Also from the above link:

Lisa says Stefanie then walked into the woods by the house, an area with which she was extremely familiar. There is a path through the area that leads to the main road. The family heard a vehicle pass by shortly after Stefanie ran off, although nobody saw it. “They do not know if it was a vehicle, a four-wheeler, a motorcycle or something,” she said. “By the time anybody got up there, the vehicle was already gone.”

 

[Parsnip]

The child is tearful after an argument with her sister and walks off into the woods. She knows the area, and this is something she has done before. In fact, her mom has found her after such similar events. So, safe to assume that she did not come back on her own but required finding.

Some of the family heard a vehicle shortly after she walked off. Why did they take note of that? Is it unusual to hear a vehicle there? Or did the vehicle sound unusual?

When did the family commence searching? Did they knock on any neighbors’ doors? Why would they wait until the next day to make the report to police? Did they think Stefanie would be okay all night out in the woods by herself? Surely the presence of an unusual vehicle in the area around the time she walked off combined with the length of time she had been gone should have increased their alarm, imo.

 

[cheshire84]

Then, of course, we have previous arrests for child abandonment in Texas, which is why they left for Maine.

 

[azure]

Then, of course, we have previous arrests for child abandonment in Texas, which is why they left for Maine.

Which IMO casts doubt on anything reported by the family that cannot be independently verified.

 

[StarrChance]

I agree. The first time I heard about the case I looked up the approximate location on a map via street view. I thought, “What a beautiful place this is.” Until I stopped at a red mailbox with a rundown looking path, a deserted car, and old appliances. Creepy I thought. Turns out, that’s her house. But enough about gut feelings. The background reports don’t look very good either. I’ve tried to keep an open mind, and there are so many possibilities as to what might have happened. Did she run away, was she abducted, human trafficking at the border, bears (it’s hunting season), hunters (again, hunting season). I wondered about the possibility that a hunter accidentally killed her, but then covered it up.

But, that brings me back to the gut feeling. Also, there’s a track record here. I’ve been saying this on chat groups I’m a part of. I really think this calls for some high tech equipment such as GPRs and grid search drones. It’s possible they need the correct warrants and permission for this, and they’re focusing their efforts on finding her as a runaway or with someone.

Thinking about your post and hoping they throughly search in and under any deserted cars, appliances, old junk/trash etc. self harm seems unlikely. Such a vulnerable age.

 

[truthfinder2019]

Thinking about your post and hoping they throughly search in and under any deserted cars, appliances, old junk/trash etc. self harm seems unlikely. Such a vulnerable age.

I also had a look in google street view and the place and main road (little road in a wooded area) are completely isolated.
What are the odds that someone was driving by at the same precise moment Stefanie arrived to the road? Would be really an extremely unlucky coincidence, which can be of course, but probability is low. The FBI special section that deals with child abductions was immediately mobilised. It does not always happen.
There is sth odd in this case regarding what was stated about SM. Stefanie had access to it for sure. Somehow.
I do not believe what is stated. It is impossible a teenager would not be on internet somehow. She may have used her parents or her grandpa phone.
She may have met someone online unfortunately. They heard some sort of vehicle noise just after. Coincidence?
Where did K9 lose her scent? Was it at the road?
IMO she left in a vehicle via the road, maybe initially willingly. She had tried to run away before. Or, she took a ride as she was upset and unfortunately turned out to be the wrong ride.
I really fear for this beautiful girl. Too many predators online who always find and know their way into the heart of innocent minors.
IMO she was abducted. Just my current opinion based on everything I could read.

 

[truthfinder2019]

Still missing, no news

https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/boston/news/the-fbi-and-the-maine-state-police-announce-15000-reward-for-missing-aroostook-county-teenager-stefanie-damron

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“Before we left and stuff, she came up to me — was giving me love — and hugged me and told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek,” Lisa remembered. “I kissed her back and told her I love her and, ‘I’ll be back.’”

FBI and Maine State Police working to find teen Stefanie Damron who vanished from New Sweden, Maine, in September

The 13-year-old walked into the woods behind her home on September 23, 2024. She was reported missing the next day.

www.nbcnews.com

Reward offered for missing New Sweden teen has resulted in ‘more than a dozen’ new tips

In December, the FBI announced a $15,000 reward for information regarding the missing teen. The Maine Department of Public Safety confirms that this reward has resulted in new tips.

www.wagmtv.com

 

[dotr]

Feb 4, 2025

How many missing people are there from Maine? Bill would require more tracking

A national database lists more than 140 missing people from Maine

www.wmtw.com

''AUGUSTA, Maine —
A Maine State Police online tracking system currently lists 36 missing person cases in the state, dating back to 1964. According to the website, MSP Major Crimes Units investigate reports of missing persons, especially if suspicious circumstances exist.

That database does not include Stefanie Damron, who has been missing from New Sweden since September 2024.''

'' NamUs is also the nation’s only centralized federal program that offers free forensic, investigative, and analytical services to resolve all long-term missing and unidentified cases.''

''As of Tuesday morning, NamUs listed 148 missing persons cases involving people from Maine, including Damron and Lacher.''
Feb 3 2025

Effort to create Maine missing persons database draws concerns from state police

The new bill would require Maine State Police to maintain an online list of all missing people in the state, similar to a national database.

www.pressherald.com

 

[mst]

I'm questioning the story of a vehicle passing by the area where Stephanie went. If it's common for vehicles to be in that area, would you note that you heard one when she went into the woods? If it was uncommon, wouldn't you go looking if you knew she went in there? Mom said she went with her husband to go fill out a job application. She says she left when the older daughter informed her that Stephanie had run off. What is the husband doing then?

 

[truthfinder2019]

Nancy Grace on Stefanie

 

[JudiK]

Strange case. Another missing person with no leads.

 

[TMich6811]

Looks like a spring search is being arrange but absolutely no updates

 

[songbrd]

 

[Lisbeth_S]

The more I hear on this story, the more questions I have.
So many details don't make sense, so much vague/conflicting info from the family, especially around internet access/phones/wifi/etc...it's all so fishy to me.

I'm sure LE have even more stuff to work on in terms of digital trail, and the fact that the FBI is involved is reassuring.
But I'm dying to know where it all leads.