GREENVILLE — A Skowhegan man who allegedly robbed a Beaver Cove family of their vehicle earlier this week remained on the lam Friday.
Law enforcement officials have been searching logging roads, camps and blueberry fields this week, looking for Linwood Steward, 36.
Steward is accused of accosting Robert, Joseph and Evelyn Muller in their Beaver Cove home Tuesday evening.
All three victims positively identified Steward from photographs provided by Skowhegan area police, according to Greenville Police Chief Duane Alexander.
Steward allegedly knocked on the door of the Mullers’ home at about 11:15 p.m. and reported that he had car trouble and needed to use the telephone. Once inside the home, Steward allegedly pulled out a silver handgun and told the Mullers to do as he said.
After taking a wall telephone and the keys to a burnt-orange 1999 Ford Ranger owned by the Mullers, Steward allegedly retrieved a rifle and ammunition that he had left outside and fled.
The Mullers reported that Steward said he didn’t want to hurt them, but that he had nothing to lose because he was facing a 10-year sentence for as many as 80 burglaries.
Police say Steward has a lengthy criminal history and is facing a long sentence for conviction on 31 counts of burglary in the Skowhegan region. He was indicted this spring on 83 counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief that spanned four years.
A vehicle fitting the description of the stolen vehicle was connected to a theft Wednesday night at a Harmony store. A carton of cigarettes reportedly was stolen from the Harmony AG Store, according to Trooper Darryl Peary of the Maine State Police.
Police believe that Steward may be accompanied by his girlfriend, Avis Withee of Skowhegan, and her two children.
Skowhegan Deputy Chief Rick Bonneau said Friday that Withee’s family members and police have been unable to locate Avis Withee’s two children.
Withee’s blue Ford Probe had been observed by residents in the Beaver Cove area before the robbery. The vehicle was found abandoned in Kokadjo later that night and was impounded by police.
Steward is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information should contact local police or the Maine State Police.
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