Police name dead woman Cause of death undetermined

BANGOR – Police have identified the body found floating in the Penobscot River on Thursday as Faye Murray, 57, of Bangor, but the cause of the woman’s death remains undetermined.

An autopsy was performed Friday by the state Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta where an official said a formal announcement of the cause of death was pending additional studies, which could take several months.

Meanwhile, Bangor police detectives on Friday were still trying to determine what happened. Police said it appears Murray’s body had been in the water for less than a day.

A man walking his dog near the city docks, located behind the Sea Dog Brewing Co. restaurant, found Murray’s body early Thursday afternoon. The man and an assistant harbor master pulled the body from the water.

Investigators quickly identified Murray based on an identification card on the body. Detective Sgt. Chip Hodges of the Bangor Police Department said Friday that officers also recognized Murray – who has three tear-shaped tattoos on her right cheek – from previous dealings with her.

Murray, who was known widely by her married name Faye Williams, had a criminal record and substance abuse problems that date back more than 15 years.

In 1991 she was sentenced to 90 days in jail with all but 48 hours suspended for a criminal trespass conviction. Special conditions imposed on her at that time required that she attend 90 meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous within the first 90 days after her release.

In subsequent years, her convictions included assaults, criminal mischief and filing a false alarm or public report.

Officials said that in recent years she had been trying to straighten out her life as evidenced by her entry into drug court, a program that began in 2000.

One year ago this month, she graduated from drug court, whose program requires at least a year to complete.

Police released Murray’s name Friday after the woman’s family had been notified.

Hodges would not comment on the cause of death, but after the body was discovered in the water, police detectives were scouring the small park and railroad tracks near the docks for indications of what had happened.

Hodges said no missing person report had been filed on Williams, who lived in Bangor but appeared to be moving around.

Murray’s son, who went to the Bangor police station Friday afternoon looking for answers, said he didn’t want to comment when asked about his mother.