Family of New Portland homicide victim offers $20,000 reward for information

AUGUSTA – The family of a New Portland woman whose death in June remains a mystery offered a $20,000 reward Thursday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her killer.

Louise Brochu was killed at her home on June 8, and state police continue working on the investigation “day and night,” said Lt. Gary Wright of the Criminal Investigation Division.

Brochu, who was 50, ran a wood-flooring business in New Portland. Police found her body outside her business and say her death was a homicide, but remain mum on details about the case.

On Thursday, several family members attended a news conference at state police headquarters to appeal for any information that could help point to a suspect.

“We are certain that there are individuals who have information that could be helpful in advancing this case,” said Luke Brochu of Glenburn, a brother of the victim. “We are hopeful that anyone who has information that could be helpful will come forward.”

Brochu expressed gratitude to the state police for doing “everything they can” to solve the case, adding, “We are confident there will be resolution.”

Louise Brochu’s 19-year-old daughter, Emily, who lives in New Hampshire, called her mother hardworking, generous and “a wonderful spirit who was taken from me far too soon. She will not get to see me graduate from college, which would have been her proudest moment.”

“Today she’s looking down on us, proud to see we’re taking action. She was a woman of action. She’s rallying behind us,” she said. “We need resolution, and this reward’s main purpose is to speed this process up so we can gain closure.”

Wright thanked the family for its assistance to investigators. He said the reward money is provided by the Brochu family members and will be administered by them.

Noting that there is “still an individual or individuals out there who are responsible for the death of Louise Brochu,” Wright said detectives are engaged in a full-scale investigation.

He would not comment on reports two weeks after the murder that a man who lives near Brochu’s business was interviewed by state police and his vehicles were impounded.

Earlier this month, Wright said police were interviewing and re-interviewing people.

In addition to Luke and Emily Brochu, brothers Guy, Adrian and Jim and sister Lucy Comber attended Thursday’s news conference.