Staff Writer
HOWLAND — A former Caribou man has been missing since late Saturday, and officials said on Tuesday afternoon that the search would likely continue today.
Dean Levasseur, 24, a 2006 graduate of the Caribou High School currently residing in Freeport, hasn’t been seen since his late arrival at the annual “Chickenfest” concert/party with a car full of friends.
“We don’t know what happened to him,” Maine State Troop Thomas Fiske told The Maine Campus. “Last we know is at about 10:30 p.m., he was seen by one of his band mates behind the stage.”
According to the Bangor Daily News, Levasseur was scheduled to play with his band at 11 p.m. that evening but was nowhere to be found come show time.
An off-campus festival held every year by University of Maine students, Chickenfest is always held at different locations. This year’s gathering was held in Howland on private land.
According to Maine Warden Service Sergeant Ronald Dunham who coordinated the ground search off the LaGrange Road in Howland on Tuesday, the last contact with Levasseur’s cell phone occurred on Sunday morning, indicating that the phone was anywhere within one to 10 miles of a communications tower located in LaGrange.
Dunham described that the search is being conducted in formerly logged woods thickly regenerated with softwoods, “so the visibility isn’t very good from the air,” the sergeant said, referring to the helicopter assisting with the search.
“The area we’re searching is densely forested and hard to cover,” Dunhan said, “it takes manpower.”
The wardens have been assisted in the search by the Maine State Police and the Maine Forest Service as well as dozens of volunteers trekking the area for signs of Levasseur. As of Tuesday afternoon, there was no indication that searchers had found any sign of him.
Among those searching for Levasseur are his parents, family members and many of his classmates.
Dunham said that the wardens could certainly use volunteers, but added that the search is quickly reaching the point of covering the area where Levasseur could possibly be.
As the search continues, so do hopes that Levasseur will be safely found.
“The weather is turning in our favor,” Dunham explained. “Yesterday and the day before were not conducive for outdoor survival if you weren’t prepared [for the elements].”
“Our hopes are that Dean is with friends someplace and doesn’t realize everyone is looking for him; we’re hoping that he shows up safe and sound,” he added.
Levasseur is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall weighing about 145 pounds. He has brown hair, blue eyes and was last seen wearing a green jacket and blue jeans, according to the BDN.
Dunham said that individuals wishing to help can contact the Maine State Police or the local warden’s office for directions. Caribou’s closest Warden Service office is in Ashland.
A Facebook page has been created in conjunction with the search, titled “Search for Dean Levasseur.”
