Search resumes for girl missing since 1971

SMYRNA – Cathy Moulton was only 16 years old when she disappeared on Sept. 24, 1971. At the time, police had few clues into the Portland teenager’s disappearance until a hunter emerged from the Smyrna woods in 1983, claiming that he’d found the skeleton of an individual surrounded by female clothing.

But the hunter was unable to retrace his steps and lead authorities back to where he said he saw the remains.

Twenty-one years later, police haven’t let go of the case of the missing girl, and they joined forces with local law enforcement Thursday to restart the search.

Maine State Police, Portland police officers and officials from the Maine Warden Service set up a command post at Smyrna’s Brookside Inn during the morning, shortly before officials began searching the woods around nearby Mill Stream. Officials said they may have gotten a better indication of where the hunter found the remains in light of recent interviews.

Sgt. Patrick Dorian of the warden service said that his department helped organize the search.

“We are going to search until it gets dark,” he said from the command post. “The hunter who found her recalled that he came along a triangular shaped pile of six maple syrup barrels in the area, which were stacked beside an old stove. We are hoping that if any local hunters know that area or recall it, they could call the police.”

Late into the afternoon, police with K-9 cadaver dogs combed the woods in the hopes of finding the location of the skeleton.

Portland Sgt. Kevin Cady said that police believe that Moulton had been visiting around the Mars Hill area in 1971 before she was dropped off at a camp in Smyrna. After the hunter reported finding the remains, police searched for three days until snowfall hampered the investigation.

“At this point, this is still a missing persons case,” he explained. “We don’t have a clear indication of what happened to her … She may have gotten lost and died of exposure or she might have been killed and left in the woods.”

Cady said that he hoped Thursday’s inquiry would give officials more clues into the incident.

“There is someone out there,” he acknowledged.

Portland Detective Sgt. Daniel Young said that the teenager may have been with people from Smyrna, far northern Maine, or even Canada around the time of her disappearance.

“A lot of work has been done on this case in the last 10 years,” he explained. “We’ve identified more people to interview, so we decided to put a small task force together to concentrate on another search.”

Police were still on the scene early Thursday evening but were going to abandon the effort at nightfall. Moulton’s sister, Kim Higgins of Windham, accompanied police to Smyrna to assist them. Higgins said that she has “never given up hope” that her sister would eventually return.

“Hopefully, we’ll find something,” commented Young. “So we can try to put this to rest.”

Police are urging anyone with information about the case to call the Maine State Police at (800) 924-2261 or 532-5400.