Maine State Police Distribute Cold Case Playing Cards to Inmates to Generate Homicide Leads

GRAY, Maine — The Maine State Police have launched a new investigative initiative aimed at solving decades-old crimes by distributing playing cards featuring details of unsolved homicides and missing persons to inmates at the Maine State Prison. According to the Maine State Police Unsolved Homicide Unit, the deck consists of 52 cards, each highlighting a photograph and specific information regarding a cold case, with the objective of soliciting tips from the incarcerated population.

Detective Corporal Michael Chavez of the Unsolved Homicide Unit stated that the program is designed to jog memories and encourage inmates to share information they may have previously withheld. “Putting a face to a name, and it’s our hope there is going to be that epiphany.. and [someone] reaches out to the prison system and says I have information,” Chavez said. The initiative is funded through a grant from the nonprofit organization Season of Justice. Similar programs are currently in operation in more than 75 correctional facilities across the United States.

Maine currently has 69 unsolved homicides and 38 suspicious missing-persons cases on record. Among the cases featured in the deck is the disappearance of Celeste Doghmi, who was last seen at her Auburn apartment in 2021. Chavez noted that as the most recent case in the collection, it stands a significant chance of yielding new leads. Another case highlighted is the murder of Dorothy Milliken, who was beaten to death outside a laundromat in Lewiston nearly 50 years ago. Her daughter, Tonia Ross, expressed hope that the cards might provide leverage for inmates seeking reduced sentences in exchange for credible information.

The cards also feature the case of Sean D. Conway, whose body was discovered in Newfield in January 1991. His sister, Doreen Crowley, told reporters that the program brings renewed hope to families who have waited decades for answers. “The playing cards may spark some conversation; someone could remember something, start talking, and come forward,” Crowley said. Officials indicated that if the pilot program proves successful in generating actionable intelligence, a second edition featuring different cases could be released within the next year.

Investigative Strategy

The implementation of the playing card program represents a strategic shift in cold case management, utilizing the closed social environment of the prison system to gather intelligence. By incentivizing information sharing within the inmate population, law enforcement agencies attempt to overcome the silence that often stalls long-term investigations. This tactic relies on the premise that individuals within criminal networks may possess specific knowledge of unsolved crimes and may be motivated to cooperate for legal leverage. However, the reliance on inmate informants necessitates rigorous vetting to ensure the veracity of any leads provided. It is important to note that all individuals who may be implicated through this process are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.