BRUNSWICK

Brunswick police say that Daniel Gagnon, missing since May 30, has been found dead.

The 26-year-old hadn’t been seen since the afternoon of May 30, when police believe he left his Pleasant Street home with just his cellphone wearing a T-shirt, shorts and sandals.

His death does not appear suspicious, but is still being investigated by Brunswick police and the Maine Medical Examiner’s Office.

According to a press release issued by Brunswick Cmdr. Tom Garrepy, Gagnon was located in a densely wooded area off River Road just before 11 a.m. Wednesday by a Maine Warden Service K-9 team.

Brunswick police had been searching for Gagnon since he was reported missing, aided by the Maine Warden Service. The latter had conducted a search of the Androscoggin River and open spaces in almost a mile-wide radius from Gagnon’s home last Thursday.

His family organized their own search Saturday.

Garrepy said at least two detectives had put in a lot of time on the case, checking phone records and his computer in their search for clues and Gagnon’s last known whereabouts, but came up empty. Police spent the last three days, following up on leads provided by friends and family, including reports of possible sightings. Gagnon’s cellphone provider tried pinging his phone, but that proved unreliable in this case.

On Wednesday, Brunswick police organized another search for him.

“We decided we would try another search with the Warden Service and Maine Search and Rescue dogs, the civilian side of their search and rescue team,” Garrepy said.

Wardens and canines started initial grid searches along the river at 9 a.m., with a handful of officers searching on foot near the canoe portage off Mill Street. Maine Search and Rescue dogs arrived at around 10:30 a.m. with five more dogs.

The team of approximately 20 people regrouped at the police station and moved the search pattern north up river with the plan to search as far as the Interstate-295 bridge. The search covered the river edge by boat.

Gagnon was located approximately 100 yards in a densely vegetated area of woods off River Road.

“It’s probably apparent he walked out there,” Garrepy said. “Normally when people disappear, there’s always some evidence or a clue as to where he may have gone. But in this case, we had very limited resources to work with and when we go to the public for stuff like that, we’re looking for any information that people will give us.”

At Bowdoin College

Gagnon joined the Bowdoin College security staff in May 2016, and by all accounts loved his job and had recently landed a promotion. Previously, he had been a firefighter in Boothbay Harbor.

Since he was hired by the college, he’d lived in Brunswick with his girlfriend, Kimberly Fickett, and her daughter, who he considered his own.

The couple had been together three-and-a-half years and Fickett said Gagnon was considering buying a house for the three of them.

“We were planning our future,” she said Wednesday afternoon.

His sister-in-law, Krystal Brewer, said Gagnon had called her husband the day he disappeared to ask questions about mortgages. He’d been talking about buying a home with other family members and friends as well.

Brewer said her husband, Gagnon’s brother, looked up to his big brother, who served as a role model.

As to what prompted Gagnon to disappear with no warning, the family said there were no signs.

“Everyone has their ups and downs, but it wasn’t anything that wouldn’t be normal in life,” Brewer said.

She didn’t know what had led to his death.

“It’s only been a couple of hours and we’re still trying to get answers, so no one knows what to think or say.”

She is happy the family has an answer now.

“I’m thankful he’s found because always searching and wondering and looking, not having any closure in that way is no way to live,” Brewer said, thanking police, friends, family and members of the media who helped in the search.

“He’s really goofy and really funny and he loved so hard; loved everybody so much and was so passionate,” Fickett said. “He was really kind and tried to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.”

Brewer said many of Gagnon’s co-workers have reached out to her, some former colleagues who told her how nice it was to work with him.

“He was a valued colleague and was considered by those who worked with him in security as a top officer, a good man, and a great friend,” said Bowdoin College spokesman Doug Cook.

Gagnon had recently earned a promotion to security officer first-class that was to have taken effect July 1, according to Cook.

“His work as a firefighter and as a security officer demonstrated his care for the welfare and safety of others, and all of us at the college benefited from Dan’s dedicated service,” he said. “Many at the college came to know Dan’s family and friends as staff in security and dining assisted in the search this past week, and our hearts go out to them as they and we mourn his passing.”