Deep in the Maine woods near the Canadian border, the Damron family sets up a homestead on 20 acres of land with a Yurt they use as a home.
The family of eight consists of father and mother, Dale and Lisa Damron, their five children, and 80-year-old Richard Turgeon. Turgeon is not a blood relative but has lived with the family for so long that the children call him grandpa.
After two winters in the yurt with no running water, no indoor plumbing and power supplied by generator, Dale and Lisa Damron, and the youngest children move into a trailer offered to them by friend, Andrew Losiewicz, a mile away up the driveway from the Yurt, while 13-year-old Stefanie and her 18-year-old sister, Star, live with grandpa Richard Turgeon, in the yurt.
After a serious argument about chores around the yurt, Stefanie goes for a walk in the woods to calm herself. Not uncommon, as Stefanie knows the woods like the back of her hand.
Lisa and Dale Damron are in town on a job interview when Star calls to tell them about the argument and Stefanie running into the woods. It is 3 p.m., and the Damron thinks Stefanie will return shortly.
As the sun goes down and Stefanie hasn’t returned, the Damrons are concerned and take to the woods, calling out for Stefanie.
When Stefanie hasn’t returned the next morning, the Damron report her missing to the Maine State Police, and organized searches begin.
Investigators conduct a neighborhood canvas and video search, K9 teams and volunteers conduct grid searches over the Damrons’ property for days, and the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment—or CARD team is brought in to look for Stefanie’s activity online.
Stefanie’s Father, Dale Damron, says he didn’t think Stefanie could get online and wasn’t aware the flip phone they got for “grandpa” Richard Turgeon could access the internet.
A quick check of the phone and the FBI realizes Stefanie could have been using the flip phone to get online.
Joining Nancy Grace:
Additional Guests
- Franz Borghardt – Criminal Defense Attorney, Founder of Borghardt Law Firm, Former Prosecutor, and Adjunct Professor at Louisiana State University, Teaching Criminal Litigation; Instagram and Facebook: BorghardtLawFirm,
- Christie Rand – Volunteer Searcher for Stefanie Damron
- Chris Carson Sr. – Neighbor of Stefanie Damron Family
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Stephanie Damron/Handout]
