OXFORD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION REPORT
(CASE NUMBER:
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01702669
01702697
Gross sexual assault
Class B
I7-A 253.2.D
April 24, 2017
Crime against person
Newry, ME, 04261
Lieutenant Justin M. Brown
JOHNSTON, Thomas
(46)
est Grand Avenue, Qe
Old Orchard Beach, ME, 04064
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WITNESS(S):
CASE SYNOPSIS
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to report they had a female at their facility reporting she had been sexually
assaulte arrived reporting the assault had taken place earlier on April 1%, in the town of
Deputy Joshua Aylward met i the Hospital and collected a statement from her and
conducted an initial interview. miffed to a sexual assault examination and the kit was later provided
to the Sheriff's Office and secured as evidence.
{GEE ported she was at Sunday River for the Spring Festival with a friend. Together they were with
a larger group of friends. They were consuming alcohol and returned to a house located eae
e
id down to get some rest and was later woken up by someone entering the room. When
‘woke, she discovered a male subject was under the covers in her bed and she felt that he was
‘The male subject quickly left and she got dressed. said she knew the man to be the meteorologist from
Channel 6 news, THOMAS JOHNSTON.
THOMAS quickly left the residence after being interrupte and her friend
left the residence and returned to his residence in Bi They then decided it would be best if she
ee
was examined for sexual assault, which led them to the!
‘Monday, March 3", | received information from ard Beach Police Department (OOBPD)
stating THOMAS was reported missing. He later
failed to show up for work at Channel 6 news.
OOB PD stated they spoke with THOMAS" ‘who didn’t admit having knowledge of his
‘whereabouts but indicated he was fine and she did not show signs of concem. When I explained to OOB PD.
that he was the suspect in a sexual assault, they stated this further supported their suspicion THOMAS
was hiding him,
DETAILS
1. April 1%, 2017- Bae and her friend
Newry to attend the Spring Festival (aka Parrot Head weeker
‘Newry that they Would all be Fi at.
2 stated they arrived at the house around 14:00 HRS.
‘der once at the house, then they went to the Festiva
|. At approximately 18:00 HR: and
jecided to lay down and take # nap.
drove to Sunday River in
house, a
Eventually the remainder of the group returned to the house and socialized. At approximately 20:30
3.
ins to check on! He first checked the room he thought she was in but noticed just
one Toom so figured it w. r. yew 3 females were rine
-_- another female jought he checked the wr yom so he
mfinued on. When he discov Iwas In another room and ae was downstairs,
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theOXFORD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
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he realized it was $I in that room. He then told @¥HMBBabout this who went to the room and discovered
‘THOMAS in the room. THOMAS dressed quickly, ran out to his car and left in a hurry.
spoke with (HIIBIM she stated she was sleeping and when someone opened the door,
she woke up. She knew someone was under the covers with her and she assumed it
‘When the person showed his face she realized it was the meteorologist from Channel 6,
THOMAS JOHNSTON. He quickly got out of the bed, put his clothes on and left the residence. =.
realized she had been unclothed while she was sleeping. She put on some of her clothes, spoke wi
(QR and they left the residence to retun to Bridgton.
On their ride home and once in Bridgton, they discussed the incident and decided it would be best if she
yand she was unsure
5.
hhad a sexual assault examination. @HHB. was quite sure THOMAS was
‘what else may have happened. She did notice the sheets on the bed were very wet where she had been laying.
6. Together, QS. and QUENNEEEEP went to the Hospital where she submitted to the examination.
7. April 24, 2017/01:25 HRS - Deputy Joshua Aylward received the complaint. He drove to (a
Hospital to speak with 0 and’
8. April "4, 2017/02:34 HRS - Deputy Aylward arrived at the Hospital where he conducted and interview
With SERED and QUAI 2s well as collect statement forms from each.
9. April 2", 2017/07:14 HRS - U received a call from Lieutenant Brian Landis advising of
Landis stated he received the information from Sergeant Matthew Baker who was inquiring what to do with the
sexual assault kit. I explained that it should be secured in the refrigerator at CID and the unit needed to be
sealed with evidence tape until the exam kit was transported to the crime lab for examination. short time
later, 08:08 HRS, | was asked to call Sgt. Baker. I called Sgt. Baker and he asked what to do with the sexual
assault kit. 1 explained to him that it needed to be secured in the refrigerator at CID and the door was to be
sealed with evidence tape and his signature. 1 stated the urine needed to be frozen and secured in the same
manner, Sgt. Baker stated Deputy Richard Murray would be transporting the evidence but he would tell him
case. Lt.
what to do with it
10. April 24, 2017/09:05 HRS - Deputy Murray secured the urine and sexual assault kit in CID and
secured the refrigerator doors with signed evidence tape.
April 24, 2017/10:35 HRS - Deputy Aylward arrived at SEES TT? town of Newry, the
I
residence in which the assault occurred. As he was arriving the owner, TE, also arrived,
idence for specific
Deputy Aylward explained why he was there and received written consent to search the resi
items. Deputy Aylward seized a pair of black female underwear from the trash, belonging to MRR. and the
sheets that were reported to be on the bed atthe time of the assault. While at the residence he interviewed
HEEB and obtained a written statement. (QUMEBEBenied seeing or hearing anything but did state he saw
THOMAS had a shirt on but he was unsure about pants because he didn’t look down.
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12. April 3", 2017/08:50 HRS - A statewide teletype was sent out (File 6) reporting THOMAS was
missing. He was overdue from Sunday River as he was expected to return on April 1*, THOMAS was
reportedly operating his 2017 silver Subaru Forester, a)
‘5 HRS - I called OOB PD and spoke with Corporal Scott Jarrett. He stated
THOMA! reported him missing. Apparently
THOMAS was due home to watch their child(ren) so she could go to work.
She has tried calling him but he will not answer. THOMAS was also due for work himself at approximately
¢ and it showed he was in the area of
15:00 HRS. Cpl. Jarrett then stated they “pinged” THOMAS? phon:
Danville Comer Road in the town of Aubum, THOMAS’@ TED live a short distance
from this road, also in Auburn. He stated they suspect the (Bis with him but they don't know why she
wouldn't admit to it. When they contacted her to see if' she knew where he was or if she had heard from him,
she didn’t seem at all concerned he was “missing” and stated that if given a few days to clear his head, she was
sure he would show up and everything would be fine.
14, I then explained to Cpl. Jarrett that he was the suspect in a sexual assault from the 1 while at Sunday
Cpl. Jarrett stated this,
River and the assault occurred at
further confirmed his suspicion the either with THOMAS or knew where he was.
15, THOMAS later failed to arrive at work, apparent by his absence on the news.
April 5, 2017/09:01 HRS - After reviewing the case and collecting what information Deputy Aylward
16.
had, I called to set up an interview. There was no answer so I left a message for her to return my call.
After calling’ I called| to set up an interview. He stated the earliest he could meet with me
would be April 114 in the evening,
17. April §*, 2017/13:05 HRS - Lieutenant Thomas Harriman stopped at the Crime Lab and dropped off
the sexual assault kit. At this time he also stopped at the HETL and dropped off the urine sample that was
collected.
18. April 5, 2017/14:35 HRS - 1 spoke with @(MBMB and agreed to meet with her Friday, April 7 to
conduct an interview.
19. April 6, 2017/19:00 HRS - \ received a call from ‘Aubum Police Department stating they had located
THOMAS' vehicle. They stated the missing person was broadcast on the news with the vehicle attached and
an Auburn resident called in reporting the vehicle was on Cascade Road. They stated the vehicle had been
there for several days.
20. responded to the area to assist in the search for THOMAS, given the proximity to his QIH@ residence
located at iubwrn. As | was arriving on scene they informed me they found THOMAS’
body, he had apparently committed suicide.
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2i. I stood by on scene until THOMAS? body was removed from the woods. THOMAS had cut his wrists
with a razor blade, causing him to lose a significant amount of blood. It appeared to me as though he then
became unconscious and died from exposure (hypothermia), not loss of blood. I collected an oral swab for
positive DNA comparison and the body was transported to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.
22. April 74, 2017 - 1 spoke with Detective Nate Westleigh of Auburn Police Department. He stated they
had looked through the vehicle and through the items on THOMAS and they were unable to find a suicide note
or anything of any value to our respective investigations. Det. Wesleigh did state they received a call from a
store in Mechanic Falls stating THOMAS was there buying razor blades on Sunday, April 24. Det. Westleigh
stated these would have been the blades used to cut his wrists and APD would be obtaining that footage.
23. April 74, 2017/16:45 HRS - \ met with (MDa her residence in TT She
recounted the events for me, the interview lasting for approximately 45 minutes.
She was busy at the
24, April 10%, 2017/11:45 HRS - I called!
time but was able to speak with me for approximately 15 minutes. She stated she had heard the allegations
against THOMAS and didn’t really have anything to say. She stated that all she knew was he had gone to
Sunday River and that he was supposed to be home Saturday night. She stated that he didn’t return so on
‘Sunday she suspected he stayed at the mountain to snowboard.
to be at the mountain as well. said that THOMAS would often times disappear and then contact her
yent on to say that early Sunday morning she received @
later and tell her he decided to snowboard.
few text messages from THOMAS and she didn't respond right away. She said one was what looked like
hands praying. This was the last she heard of THOMAS. She later tried contacting him and he still failed to
return home. Monday when she still could not reach him and he had not returned, she filed the missing person
report. stated she wasn’t sure if she should sit down for an interview because she didn’t want to
upset THOMAS?’ family. I thanked! Jand asked her to call me if she had any questions or thought of
anything else that may be of use for my investigation,
24. April 10", 2017/12:00 HRS - | drove to the Medical Examiner's Office to retrieve evidence collected
by the MLE. Office. They took an oral swab, penile swab and swabs of his right and left hand as well as a blood
dot. [also collected his underwear for processing at the crime lab. After leaving the M.E. Office, I transported
the items next door to the crime lab and transferred custody for the purposes of testing. 1 also provided the
underwear collected from the scene to the lab for testing.
28. April 13%, 2017/13:00 HRS. yet me in Harrison for an interview.
cooperative and had a very good recollection of the event. This interview lasted approximately 45 minutes.
26. April 19%, 2017/14:40 HRS - | drove to (TED 4uburn to meet with poms
them to call.
and QED for an interview. No one was home at the time so I left my business card for
was
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27. Atapproximately this same time I was provided with footage and a receipt of THOMAS from the late
night of April 1* to the early morning hours of April 2"4 (after the assault occurred). After leaving the
residence, at some point he arrived at Restaura in Newry. While there he had some food and
performed a weather skit for one of the patrons. This skit was recorded and forwarded to myself.
28. Later on this date I received information that the M.E. Office had determined THOMAS? official cause
of death was exposure (hypothermia).
29. April 20%, 2017/15:50 HRS - | drove (ATED 4uburn ogain. No one was home at this
time, my business cards were still in the door from the day prior.
30. April 21", 2017/09:20 HRS - | called @MNRG and asked if he and his family would
down for an interview and he stated he would tak it over with his family and let me know. He
‘trying to deal with the loss and not sure they would be interested in speaking to me. I asked that
know either way when they made a decision.
April 254, 2017 - | received the toxicology results from the urine sample provided by GD.
The summary of these results indicate Qi
'No illegal narcotics were found in her system.
be willing to sit
stated they were
(SB ict me
31.
32, April 25%, 2017/ 13:05 HRS - have received no return contact from@MN) regarding the interview.
[At this time, due to his initial resistance, the case is closed. Should MM agree to an interview, the case will
be updated accordingly.
COURT & DAT!
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