Investigators hope reward will bring new clues in Maitland disappearance

“This reward money today is for information leading to her recovery,” said Craig Tremaroli, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Albany Field Office, which covers Vermont.

The FBI, which is putting up the funding, is assisting in the investigation into Maitland’s disappearance, which is headed by the Vermont State Police.

“Someone out there may have information that can help solve this case,” Tremaroli said. “It’s been too long and it’s time to come forward.”

Col. Matthew Birmingham of the Vermont State Police said investigators are committed to bring resolution to the case for the sake of Maitland’s family, adding, “This is not a cold case, it’s an unsolved case.”

Maj. Dan Trudeau, head of the state police criminal division, said he had been in regular contact with Maitland’s father, Bruce Maitland, who authorities had updated ahead of the reward announcement.

“He apologizes he couldn’t be here,” Trudeau said of Maitland’s father.

“I think our relationship is pretty good,” the major added when asked about law enforcement’s dynamic with the family. “But, again, we haven’t given him the answer to his daughter’s disappearance — that’s on us, we’re still working on it.”

The teenager was last seen around 11:20 p.m. on March 19, 2004, when she left her job at the Black Lantern Inn. The car she drove, a green 1985 Oldsmobile 88 that belonged to her mother, was discovered by state police the following day, backed in near an abandoned farmhouse about a mile from the restaurant where she was last seen.

Because Maitland had yet to be reported missing by family and friends, the car’s discovery was not treated as suspicious at the time, and police had the car towed from the scene.

Maitland, who grew up in Franklin County, was living with a childhood friend in Sheldon when she went missing. On the day of her disappearance, she had taken her GED exam and had lunch with her mother, according to press reports. Police did not initially suspect foul play in the case.

In the two decades that followed, her disappearance was the subject of numerous national crime shows and a book published by the private investigator hired by her family. Her father, who has since moved out of state, recently started a nonprofit to help families of missing persons hire private investigators. Two former Vermont State Police colonels serve on the board of the nonprofit, according to its website. The family also maintains a Facebook page related to Maitland’s disappearance.

Investigators said there have been no recent reported sightings of Maitland. Early on, there were reports that she had been seen at a New Jersey casino, but those reports were not verified, according to police.

In 2012, investigators looked into whether Maitland may have been the victim of serial killer Israel Keyes, but subsequently ruled it out.

Two years ago, state police reported that they had identified “the source of DNA found as part of the investigation.” The DNA was discovered on an item at the scene where the car was found. However, the results of the DNA testing did not lead police to identify a suspect in the case.

This story, by Alan J. Keays and Diane Derby, was first published by VTDigger on March 19.