Stefanie Damron

Lisa and Christopher Dale Damron say they left their home in New Sweden, Maine, on the afternoon of September 23, 2024, to attend a job interview and complete related paperwork. Four of their six children remained at home with their grandfather.

By approximately 3:00 p.m., Lisa began receiving texts from her eldest daughter saying that Stefanie had left the house. Lisa says Stefanie had argued with her older sister about chores before she was last seen walking into the woods on West Road in New Sweden. When Stefanie did not return and family members were unable to find her, she was reported missing the following day, September 24, 2024.

According to her mother, Stefanie had run away twice before, but they were able to locate her both times. Stefanie is said to be very familiar with the surrounding woods.

New Sweden is a rural town in northern Maine’s Aroostook County, with a population of fewer than 600 residents. The Damron family lives off-grid in a secluded, heavily wooded area. Their home has been described as a yurt-like structure without running water or indoor plumbing. The Damron children are homeschooled.

According to Facebook accounts belonging to Christopher and Lisa Damron, the family moved from Texas to Maine in 2021. Child Protective Services (CPS) was reportedly involved with the family while they lived in Texas, though the extent of that involvement is unclear.

Mr. Damron told On Patrol that he believes Stefanie may have used her grandfather’s cellphone to meet someone online or through a dating website, who then picked her up. Stefanie did not have her own phone and did not take any devices with her when she left home.

Stefanie’s 14th birthday was just 12 days after her disappearance. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a long-sleeved blue shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots.

Age at time of disappearance: 13

Current age: 14

Date of Birth: October 6, 2010

Sex/Race: White female

Height: 5’0”

Weight: 130 pounds

Hair: Brown, shoulder length

Eyes: Green

Clothing: blue jeans, long-sleeved blue shirt, black Harley Davidson hiking boots

Volunteers have created a website to share information about Stefanie’s case and ways the public can help:

The area has been extensively searched using vehicles, drones, horses, several K-9 teams, and cadaver dogs. The FBI Major Crimes Unit is partnering with the Maine State Police on Stefanie’s case.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the safe return of Stefanie Damron and/or the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance.

Call: Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1-800-924-2261 or (207) 532-5400

Call: FBI toll-free line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kidnapping Victim: Stefanie Damron. https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/stefanie-damron

People Magazine. Police Share Update Nearly 2 Months After Teen Left Home and Vanished. https://people.com/police-share-update-nearly-2-months-after-teen-left-home-vanished-8750283

Maine State Police. Facebook Post — October 2024. https://www.facebook.com/MaineSP/posts/pfbid038YZNkzLY5VW6QYoHxtCgRwEQ2gw86PKD5WF6LX2p8upAeRXuMXn7RooGzL2nWN8l

NBC News. Dateline: Missing in America – Stefanie Damron. https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/missing-in-america/stefanie-damron-maine-missing-teen-rcna186697

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Case #2033613. https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/2033613/1

Wikipedia. New Sweden, Maine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Sweden,_Maine

FBI Boston. Facebook Post — October 2024. https://www.facebook.com/FBIBoston/posts/pfbid02mtxmL24KzjrE1ZXDaJ57waRe3yC5djq4u1oReKXoGaTCm1NzFLct3auzURnzBW9Ul

Maine State Police. Facebook Post — November 2024. https://www.facebook.com/MaineSP/posts/pfbid0QfcsgAKa4axjxbcEjpEKZxje2eTER5Q3zPd4Sh4KLRUQaECvFHQrgGddFrEP8Bg6l

WMTW News 8. Maine Missing Girl Update: Stefanie Damron, New Sweden. https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-missing-girl-update-stefanie-damron-new-sweden/64675967