Canaan disappearance, murder challenge police

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CANAAN – Maine State Police have nothing new to report in the murder of Cheryl Murdoch, 37, and the mysterious disappearance of Shirley Moon Atwood, 35, both of Canaan. It has been three weeks since the discovery of Murdoch’s body in the Canaan woods, and…
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CANAAN – Maine State Police have nothing new to report in the murder of Cheryl Murdoch, 37, and the mysterious disappearance of Shirley Moon Atwood, 35, both of Canaan.

It has been three weeks since the discovery of Murdoch’s body in the Canaan woods, and since then, police have searched the woods with cadaver dogs, investigated a nearby stream and conducted dozens of interviews.

Sgt. Anna Love of the Maine State Police said Thursday that there is nothing new to report.

“We are still actively looking for Mrs. Atwood and continue to investigate the murder of Cheryl Murdoch,” Love said.

Murdoch’s body was found Aug. 11 in woods off Route 23 in Canaan. She had been reported missing shortly after July 27 by her mother when she failed to show up in Arizona for a planned visit. Murdoch’s car was found at the Atwood trailer.

Atwood remains missing.

Both women lived in Atwood’s Route 23 mobile home, although police are unclear whether they lived there separately or together.

Murdoch was reported missing on Aug. 6, and Atwood may have been missing for several weeks before that. Atwood’s vehicle also has been located, but police will not reveal where it was found.

Meanwhile, Atwood’s husband, Shannon Atwood, 36, remains in Somerset County Jail in Skowhegan, unable to post $20,000 bail on charges of terrorizing, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and reckless conduct.

The charges stem from an incident on Sunday, Aug. 13, when police went to the Atwood trailer armed with a search warrant.

Shannon Atwood barricaded himself inside, and police said he threatened them with a bow and arrow.

No one has been charged with Murdoch’s murder, and police are tight-lipped about how she died, whether she died at the mobile home or somewhere else, and whether they believe Shirley Atwood also has met foul play.

Police also will not say whether Shannon Atwood is cooperating in the investigation or how they knew where to find Murdoch’s body.

In addition, they have not said what the relationship between the three people was.


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