Missing Bangor man’s case still open Seeking closure, family lays wreath at downtown bridge in remembrance

BANGOR – Nearly two months have passed since anyone has heard from 25-year-old Matt LaCrosse, who last was seen walking away from a local bar.

The investigation into his disappearance remains open, but the last evidence collected was gathered from a search and rescue dog that followed LaCrosse’s scent from the bar to a downtown bridge, Bangor police detective Sgt. Paul Kenison said Monday.

“We had a scent dog, and he tracked him over to the State Street Bridge over the Kenduskeag Stream,” he said. “About halfway across the bridge, the scent trail just stopped.

“The dog went as far as to go up on the railing,” Kenison added.

There is no way to determine whether LaCrosse went into the stream, and if he did, whether he stumbled, was pushed or went on his own accord, the detective said.

The Maine State Police dive team searched the mouth of the Kenduskeag Stream and Penobscot River with a boat equipped with a special sonar, but found no sign of LaCrosse.

The family, after hearing about the results of the search dog’s efforts, placed two wreaths at the bridge, Steve DeWitt, LaCrosse’s brother-in-law, said Monday.

“It’s all looking pretty bleak,” he said solemnly. “In all honesty, at this point I would give my kidneys, my liver, my soul to find my wife’s brother’s body. We need closure.”

LaCrosse had met friends Nov. 9 at Carolina Sports and Spirits and reportedly last was seen alone outside the bar.

LaCrosse, described as 6 feet tall with brown hair and weighing 250 pounds, was reported missing by a co-worker when he didn’t show up for work at The Home Depot.

Police, who have interviewed patrons at the bar and LaCrosse’s family, friends and co-workers, entered his Bangor apartment in November. Detectives took his computer to search for clues to his disappearance.

“We’re still holding the case open, of course, but we’ve run out of places to go with it,” Kenison said. “Right now, we’re at a dead end until something develops.”

Without knowing what exactly happened to LaCrosse, the family continues to operate in a holding pattern, DeWitt said.

“We’re dealing,” he said. “Someday, hopefully, we’ll find out what happened.”

The holidays were especially difficult.

“Christmas was hard for the family,” DeWitt said. “They did some special things for Matt at Christmastime,” including laying the wreaths at the downtown bridge.

Before LaCrosse went missing, he had purchased Christmas gifts for several family members, including his sister Brandie DeWitt, which were delivered.

“Matt was a very giving person,” Steve DeWitt said. “He loves Christmas. It’s very hard.”

DeWitt said his wife knows exactly how many days have passed since her brother went missing.

“We don’t have any closure yet,” he said. “Matt’s missing. We just want to find him and take it from there. The family is dealing with it the best they can.”