Authorities in Maine have confirmed the tragic discovery of a grandmother and her two young grandchildren, all of whom were found deceased in a submerged vehicle over the weekend. The victims have been identified as Sharon Bukulmez, aged 61, and her grandchildren, five-year-old Kinley Grubb and three-year-old Sawyer Grubb. The bodies were recovered from Pond Cove on Sunday, September 20, following a search initiated by concerned relatives.
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The three had last been seen around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday while departing from a family gathering in Jonesboro. They were reportedly en route to Machias but failed to arrive as expected, prompting family members to alert the authorities about their disappearance.
As investigators commenced their search for Bukulmez and the children, the Bar Harbor Police Department sought location data from Bukulmez’s mobile phone. This information indicated that the vehicle was likely located in the water near a boat ramp situated at the end of Schoppee Point Road in Roque Bluffs.
Search efforts intensified early Sunday morning when law enforcement personnel responded to the location identified from the cellphone data. Around 7 a.m., they discovered the submerged vehicle in the water, leading to the recovery of the bodies of the three family members.
In addition to the Maine State Police, other agencies, including the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Coast Guard, participated in the recovery operation to ensure that all necessary resources were available at the scene.
Following their retrieval from the water, the bodies were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. Autopsies will be conducted to establish the cause and circumstances of death. As of now, authorities have not released further details regarding the incident, which remains under investigation.
This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the community, with residents mourning the loss of Bukulmez and her grandchildren. Family and friends are left in disbelief as they reflect on the untimely deaths of the beloved family members.
The investigation continues, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding this incident to come forward. The local community has shown support for the grieving family, underscoring the strong ties present in this closely-knit area.
Updates on the investigation will be released as they become available, but for now, the focus remains on understanding the events that led to this heartbreaking incident in Maine.