Alex Jackson went missing on May 12. Courtesy Windham Police Department
LEEDS — June 30 marks seven weeks since Alex Jackson, 33, of Windham was reported missing. He was last seen on May 12 in Leeds and was reported to be traveling to the upstate Vermont area.
Windham Police Department has been working with Maine Warden Service to locate Jackson. Maine Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said Maine State Police are now assisting with the investigation.
Jackson was traveling with his husky/Labrador mix Hazel in his white dual axle Dodge RAM 3500 bearing a Maine farm plate with numbers 97096. He was towing a gooseneck flatbed trailer.
Alex Jackson’s dog, who was with Jackson the last time he was seen on May 12, turned up on May 15. Submitted by Kayla Jackson
Hazel was found on May 15 about 40 miles south of Leeds in North Yarmouth and was returned to Jackson’s family.
Jackson’s sister, Kayla Jackson, said in May 21 and May 28 Facebook posts that the collar Hazel had on when she was found did not match what she left home with; on June 5, she said the last area his cell phone pinged was in Monmouth; on June 14, she posted divers were looking in lakes and rivers; on June 21, she posted detectives followed up on potential sightings in Skowhegan and Bangor, but both were false. Throughout several posts, Kayla Jackson has asked people to stop going on private property to search as detectives have already done so.
Timelines, details and speculations have been shared aplenty across social media and in a Facebook group dedicated to finding Jackson. Most, if not all, is information police cannot confirm, said Windham police Capt. Jason Andrews in an email.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people have taken it upon themselves to use the information on Facebook to develop theories and timelines,” Andrews said. “As you could imagine, if we released every lead before we vetted them out it would lead to a lot of confusion.”
Andrews said the primary investigator is in regular contact with Jackson’s family and updates to the case will be shared publicly and on social media when they become available. Members of Jackson’s family were reached via Facebook, but declined comment until detectives release new information.
Jackson’s mother, Patricia Jackson, said in a May 21 Portland Press Herald story that he always checks in daily and that he calls and texts his girlfriend several times a day. Jackson often travels back roads in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont while hauling equipment, livestock and supplies for farmers.
“He always calls. He never, ever goes off for days and doesn’t check in,” Patricia Jackson said in the article. “He doesn’t smoke pot. He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t do any of that stuff. He doesn’t hang out with shady people. It’s just like he’s been plucked out of wherever. The whole thing is insane.”
Kayla Jackson posted to Facebook on Friday that with no answers seven weeks to the day Alex was reported missing, it was an emotional day. She thanked those who continue to help look and put up fliers. Detectives have asked family and friends involved in their Facebook group to step back from social media due to the volume of harassment the family has endured, she said.
“It’s hard seeing all the hateful comments that people are making,” Kayla Jackson said. “I can’t believe it has come to that, but I keep praying every day for good news and for my brother to come home … Alex, I love you and I will never give up on finding you. I miss you so much and I hope that you come home soon.”
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