Body in Old Orchard identified as Canadian

OLD ORCHARD BEACH – A man found dead two days ago on the beach was identified Friday as a career member of the Canadian armed forces who investigators say was the victim of a random attack.

Sgt. Derek Rogers, 47, of Russell, Ontario, a musician who played trombone for the Canadian Central Command Band, was beaten to death early Wednesday while out for a stroll, Maine State Police Sgt. Matt Stewart said.

Rogers, whose family has vacationed in Old Orchard for generations, had spent several weeks at the beach with his wife of 20 years, Faith, Stewart said. She had left Old Orchard to return to work, but Rogers was staying longer.

Investigators believe several people were present when Rogers was attacked between 2:15 and 2:30 a.m. on the boardwalk in the town’s Ocean Park area.

It was not unusual for Rogers to go for a walk at that hour when he was having trouble sleeping, but it turned out that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stewart said.