SACO – Robert Ouellette, the father of a teen-age girl who was strangled two years ago, has died.

Ouellette died Saturday of natural causes at his home in Saco. He was 49.

A real estate agent and volunteer, Ouellette showed a brave face and great strength for his family after his 15-year-old daughter, Ashley, was killed in February 1999.

After spending the night at a friend’s house, Ashley was strangled and found lying in the middle of Pine Point Road in Scarborough.

When no one was charged in the death of his daughter, Ouellette this February filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Earl and Muriel Sanborn in York County Superior Court.

Ashley was friends with the Sanborns’ sons, Daniel and Steven, who were the last to see her alive after she spent the night at their house.

The suit alleges that Daniel Sanborn, now 18, assaulted Ashley, injuring her in a way that ultimately caused her death.

The lawsuit has been put on hold because the defendants filed for bankruptcy protection.

Robert Ouellette is survived by his wife, Lise, and a daughter, Lindsay, as well has his mother and brother, who all live in Saco.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Thursday at Most Holy Trinity Church, Main Street, Saco. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery.