Leaked State Document Lists Missing Hampden Man's Case First

A 45-page document released in error by Maine's attorney general's office on Oct. 8 lists the disappearance of 78-year-old Doug Dunphy of Hampden as the first of several unresolved cases, the Bangor Daily News reported.

Dunphy, who retired from the Bangor Daily News in 2015 after 35 years as mechanical superintendent, was last seen in early January. State investigators and prosecutors, like his relatives, believe he is dead, according to the newspaper. The document outlines evidence in pending manslaughter and homicide investigations and identifies people who have not been charged.

His daughter, Dawn Dunphy, said the family learned of the leak from the newspaper rather than from state officials, and that no one among 16 relatives in a family group chat was contacted. Danna Hayes, a spokesperson for the attorney general's office, said the agency had not been in contact with the family at the request of the Maine State Police, which took over the case in early February. Hayes declined to discuss the pending investigation. State police spokesperson Shannon Moss referred questions to the attorney general's office.

Dunphy's white Ford Econoline van was found about two weeks after he vanished. Searches in February and May at a Kennebec Road property and nearby land did not turn up any trace of him. Dawn Dunphy said a crime lab backlog has stalled the case, and that she hopes hunters will locate her father's remains.

"He needs to be next to Mom," she said, referring to a shared burial vault for her parents.

This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.