OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Maine State Police were conducting interviews Sunday trying to determine Roger White’s movements in the hours before his body was found outside the rear of 29 Old Orchard St. near Staples Street at about 9 a.m. Saturday.
The State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy Sunday afternoon. The cause and manner of White’s death was not released as of press time.
Lt. Brian McDonough, commander of the southern division of the State Police Major Crimes unit, called White’s death “highly suspicious.”
The Major Crimes unit was called in by Old Orchard Beach Police at about 10 a.m. Saturday after a man who lived in an apartment discovered the body an hour earlier.
“Detectives are retracing his footsteps, interviewing family and friends ”¦ to help us come up with a timeline,” said Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland Sunday night.
A neighbor, who would only identify himself as “Jim,” on Saturday said he was standing outside his apartment at about 9 a.m., smoking a cigarette and waiting for a ride when a man from one of the apartments diagonally across a vacant lot toward the rear of Staples Street started hollering about a dead body. He said he walked over and saw remains and a pool of blood.
White, 49, had lived at Crosswinds Motel and Cottages on East Grand Avenue since September, said owner Eunice Marquis.
“He was always respectful, quiet, extremely nice, and I understand from my other tenants, he was very good about helping others,” said Marquis at the motel office Sunday afternoon. Marquis said she believes White worked in the construction industry.
Friend Bob Bertrand said White was among the crew members who’d worked on his properties. Bertrand described White as a “likable guy” with lots of friends and who was often seen downtown.
“He was sort of a happy-go-lucky kind of guy, he was a presence downtown,” said Bertrand.
People walking on Old Orchard Street Saturday afternoon seemed to take little notice of the fire engines and police vehicles parked in the right-hand driving lane. They strolled the sidewalks, shopping or heading down toward The Pier, enjoying the sunny day.
On Sunday, the overcast showery weather kept people off the street, all of the law enforcement vehicles had gone, and just one strip of yellow police tape remained.
Police continue to try and determine what led to White’s death.
“He was a nice man and that should not have happened to him,” said Marquis Sunday. “He never caused a bit of trouble, he never caused a problem.
“I felt so bad.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, Ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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