14-year-old girl’s death ruled homicide

FAYETTE – A body found near a pond in this Kennebec County town was identified Sunday as that of a 14-year-old girl, and Maine State Police investigators labeled the death a homicide.

The victim was identified as Marlee Johnston of Fayette.

Lt. Gary Wright of the state police criminal division said the death was ruled a homicide and investigators were not saying how Johnston was killed or releasing other details of the case.

The body was found Saturday afternoon near the shore of Lovejoy Pond by a local resident who called police.

Investigators said the girl had been seen earlier that day.