WHITING (AP) – The body of a 79-year-old man who was the object of a five-day search more than a year ago was found Tuesday in woods north of U.S. 1 in this Washington County town.
The Maine Warden Service said the remains were those of Lewis Gardner of Kittery, who was last seen in September 2004 before vanishing in the woods near his summer home. The body of his 74-year-old companion, Mona Cole, was found on Oct. 2, 2004, in Gardner’s car, which apparently got stuck on a muddy logging road.
Authorities believe Gardner died after going for help for Cole, who was diabetic and died from lack of food and water and perhaps hypothermia.
His body was found by Bob Wright of East Machias, who had been searching for his friend. The body was found near a bog on an abandoned woods road that was overgrown with vegetation. The location was about three-quarters of a mile from Gardner’s disabled vehicle as the crow flies and a mile and a half by road.
The skeletal remains were transported to the state medical examiner’s office, said Mark Latti, spokesman for the warden service, who indicated that there was no suspicion of foul play.
“It’s our belief that he got out of the car in an attempt to find help and never made it out,” Latti said.
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