The FBI and Maine State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Stefanie Damron, a 14-year-old girl from New Sweden, Maine, who has been missing since September 24, 2024.
Authorities announced a reward of up to $15,000 on Monday for information that leads to her safe return or the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance.
Damron was last seen walking into the woods near her home on West Road. She was wearing blue jeans, a long-sleeved blue shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots. She is described as a white female with green eyes and shoulder-length brown hair, standing approximately 5 feet tall and weighing about 130 pounds.
Homeschooled with limited access to social media, her disappearance has prompted an extensive search and investigation, according to an FBI press release.
“The FBI hopes this reward will incentivize anyone with information relating to Stefanie’s whereabouts to come forward,” said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division.
“Any detail, no matter how small, could be helpful. 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,” Cohen said.
Maine State Police Colonel Bill Ross echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of public assistance.
“The Maine State Police remains steadfast in our investigation into Stefanie’s disappearance. Every lead, no matter how small, is being thoroughly pursued to find her,” Ross said.
“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,” he said.
The FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) Team, a specialized unit trained in missing children cases, was deployed shortly after Stefanie was reported missing. Alongside Maine State Police, the CARD team has conducted extensive investigative efforts, including neighborhood canvassing, video surveillance reviews, and grid searches utilizing canine units. The investigation has extended beyond Maine, with leads pursued across the United States and Canada.
Despite these efforts, Stefanie remains missing.
Investigators have conducted dozens of interviews and followed multiple leads, but no substantial breakthroughs have been reported.
Authorities urge the public to review and share Stefanie’s updated missing person poster, available at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/stefanie-damron.
Anyone with information about Stefanie’s disappearance is asked to contact the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1-800-824-2261 or 207-532-5400. Tips can also be submitted to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
