EAST MILLINOCKET, Maine — U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe has asked the FBI to examine the nearly 32-year-old murder of Joyce McLain, Snowe’s spokesman said Friday.
Snowe wants the FBI to review the case, but apparently stopped short of advocating that the agency take control of the case from state police, as the victim’s mother, Pamela McLain, has sought, Snowe communications director Chris Averill said.
“This is obviously a horrific case and a tremendous burden on the family to live with this terrible uncertainty,” Averill said Friday. “For the family’s sake closure is an important element here. I think the senator would say she wants to be supportive to the extent possible.”
McLain sent Snowe a copy of a letter she sent to the FBI seeking that federal investigators “take a fresh look at the case,” Averill said. That letter arrived May 21.
That same day, the Republican senator forwarded McLain’s letter and sent a letter herself to the FBI “explaining Mrs. McLain’s hope that a new set of eyes and new technology will bring a break in the case and closure for the family. Sen. Snowe asked the FBI to look into the situation and keep her informed as to its response,” Averill added.
Averill declined to release copies of the letters and said that as far as he knows, no one from the FBI has yet responded to them.
Intervening in law enforcement issues on behalf of Snowe’s constituents is an infrequent but not unusual occurrence for the senator, Averill said. Her office acted as an intermediary when Lee native Michael Severance was murdered in Texas in 2005 and Yong Cha Jones of Bangor when her son was murdered in Baltimore in the 1990s, Averill said.
Snowe did not take a position on whether the FBI should take over the McLain case, Averill said.
“I don’t think she takes any position on that. That’s up to law enforcement or the relevant agencies involved to figure that out,” Averill said.
McLain wasn’t home to answer a request for comment made Friday afternoon. An FBI spokesman in the bureau’s Boston office referred inquiries to its Washington, D.C., headquarters, which did not respond to a request seeking comment.
Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said he doubted Snowe’s intervention in the matter would change anything.
The Maine State Police have no objection to another agency reviewing the case, and FBI agents have reviewed the case previously, but state police investigators will likely not seek a new review, he said.
A 16-year-old sophomore at Schenck High School in East Millinocket, Joyce McLain was killed sometime during the night of Aug. 8, 1980, apparently while jogging. About 35 hours passed, and a rainstorm came, before searcher Peter Larlee found her body in a clearing near electrical lines close to the school’s athletic fields. Her head and neck had been hit with a blunt object.
The homicide drew national attention on the syndicated television show “Unsolved Mysteries” in 1989, in which Larlee re-enacted his awful discovery, and in People magazine, which in April 2009 featured the discovery of forensic evidence found during an exhumation in 2008. The “Unsolved Mysteries” episode is still available on the Internet.
No arrests have been made.
Maine State Police maintain that the case always has been actively pursued.
A glimpse into the elaborate and confidential nature of the case came in December 2009, when U.S. District Judge John Woodcock urged Philip Scott Fournier, 48, of Millinocket to disclose to investigators whatever information he has about the McLain case.
Identified by the judge as a “person of interest” in the homicide, Fournier was being sentenced by Woodcock to 6½ years in prison for possession of child pornography.
Fournier’s federal public defender said Fournier had cooperated with investigators, and Fournier’s ex-wife said she believes Fournier has knowledge of the crime.
McLain has said Fournier is among about a dozen suspects or people of interest spoken of since the homicide.
Pamela McLain and friends of the McLain family made news last month when they announced the circulation of an Internet petition urging that the FBI take control of the investigation from state police. McLain also wanted state police to share the case file with her.
State police have refused both requests, saying they would seek FBI assistance if they thought it would be helpful.
McLain publicly asked the FBI to take over the case in August 2010, and an FBI spokeswoman at the time said the agency would do so if the case invoked federal jurisdiction, which would require the U.S. Attorney’s Office to find a violation of federal law in the crime.
The office did not comply with the request then.
lets say it again FBI TAKE THE CASE its long over due.
i’m glad she asked for help, but,, why in the world has it taken 32 years?
Occasionally the 1% throw a bone to the 99%.
Once again the all knowing FBI is being asked to look at a case that they have no jurisdiction over. People seem to think that the FBI is an answer to all criminal cases that have not been solved. The Maine State Police have the same abilities as the FBI. The only real difference is that the FBI can reach into all 50 states to question people whereas the State is limited to the State of Maine unless the other jurisdictions cooperate. Alot of speculation has gone on in this case inculding what type of “evidence” was found during the re-autopsy. I am confident that if there was any telling evidence found it would have been acted on. Sadly some crimes that have occurred will never be solved. I don’t beleive bringing in the FBI will solve this case.
The FBI investigates crimes against children – Joyce was a minor – there’s the jurisdiction. Thank you to Sen. Snowe for having a heart and compassion for a mother seeking justice for her daughter. Just last week on the national news, they said there has been a surge recently in cold cases being solved due to cases being turned over to other agencies/investigators for fresh eyes and a fresh approach. This mother has worked tirelessy to try to find and put a killer behind bars for brutally killing her child, and when she gets support, like what Sen. Snowe is doing, why try to knock it down – let’s rally behind her and try to get a killer off the streets! If any one of us looked in the eyes of our own children and imagined it was their lifeless, bludgeoned body that was found, I’m sure we wouldn’t quit trying to find their killer until we took our last breath on this earth. God bless Pam and prayers that justice for Joyce is achieved, and if it’s the FBI or any other agency that can crack this case, since Maine state police can’t seem to solve it after 32 years, then let’s get them on it!
http://signon.org/sign/its-time-for-maines-attorney.fb6?source=s.fb&r_by=4541163
Dana, could you please tell us the purpose of your comment?
The purpose was that this is not nor has it ever been the FBI’s jurisdiction and that the MSP are just as capable as solving this horrible murder. More to the point which I didn’t include in my post was why is Snowe doing this now? All the while she was in office she has never said anything.
Forget it Dana, I guess it was over your head. I personally hope they continue to explore every avenue including FBI.
Maine has a cold case investigative group that continues to investigate and look for evidence on all unsolved murder cases in Maine. I believe there are 16 unsolved murders in Maine at this time. Notice to murderer: If you are still alive, we WILL get you.
According to the Maine State Police web site there are atleast 69 unsolved homicides, Many of the larger police departments that have there own Homicide units are not listed on this site. Maybe there should be a web site that list ALL UNSOLVED homicides in Maine and possibly New England, According to Maura Murray’s father the NH state police will not let the FBI see the files they have on his daughter and who is handeling the case of Elana Lozada, who was missing from Portland and part of her remains were found off of RT 1 past Freeport. Thank-you Senator Snowe.
Thanks. I’ll check it out. With a state average of about 20-25 homicides a year, I did not know there were that many unsolved homicides in Maine and it really surprises me. Usually we know WHO committed the murder immediately because of motive. It’s usually just a matter of collecting the sufficient amount of evidence to convict them. Of the approximately 20,000 homicides we have in our country every year, I wonder what precentage remains unsolved. I love forensics and perhaps you can tell.
So why did it take 32 years to ask the FBI, how long has she been in politics?
Jed….it sounds like Senator Snowe was just now asked and she acted as soon as she was…..
I do believe that the Primary investigating office has to ASK for the FBI to be involved before the FBI can become involved in the case, So maybe the real question should be WHY the State Police have never ASKED for the FBI to become involved in all these 32 years??
I am only on here to set the record straight. The petition is not asking for the FBI to take over or take from the state police this unsolved murder case. It is calling on the Attorney General to release records to the FBI. (release as in let go; make available) It goes on to say, The time for the FBI to become involved is long overdue. (involved meaning connected with someone or something; connected by participation)and lastly it says, their investigation (as in to examine, study or inquire into) could uncover new or overlooked evidence……. Our focus has always been to have the FBI assist the state police in this investigation and judged by the support and number of signatures we have gotten thus far, thousands of you already knew that.
P.S. If our intent was ever about asking the FBI to step in ” take over ” the case…the petition would have been addressed to them.
From everything I have read on this case it sounds to me like a cover up to me. I think the police already know who is responsible and it is probably someone that has got a lot of power and influence in the community.
What makes you think this? And who exactly has THAT much power and influence in the community to make honest, hard working police officers cover something like this up? Your speculation is offensive without giving details to support your claim.
While the FBI is investigating this crime, read about crimes they are committing with a search for “New police weapon against homeless” and also “Historic coverup of FBI and police crimes currently taking place”. Bill Anderson Middletown CT soxin8@hotmail.com
Some believe ther has been a HUGH cover-up in Joyce’s brutal murder.
State Police made a visit to my home a couple days after the petition started on line.Asked me what I wanted?I said for them ( State Police to ask FBI to take the case ~~~~> Now lets get this cleared up !!!!! Not take it over !!!!! For (State Police ) to ask FBI to work w/ them on Joyce’s 32 year unsolved. Give them ( FBI ) a room at the barracks w/ a key, Let them have all Joyce’s file, Don’t offer information unless asked, Let them form their own opinions of her case. If they find a piece of the puzzle that you missed, That would be good. But they may find a whole different puzzle?This just may get it solved ? Its worth a try ( I believe Joyce’s unsolved for 32 years should get every chance it can to get solved) Why do I still fight for justice for Joyce ? She is my daughter still, dead don’t change that, nor does it change my love for her. I also told State Police if you loose your heart (feelings) Move on out of this job, As we that are dealing w/ murders need folks helping us that truely care !!!!!!!!!! Not being rude, and brushing us aside w/ lie after lie, Care about us and our murdered persons, As they are still very real to our hurting hearts. And to those that don’t care, our usual unfeeling comment makers, if you don’t understand our feelings for our loved one, even after years ” Stuff it “
It is so past time for this case to be solved, who cares who solves it as long as it is solved.