Police said Wednesday they believe 30-year-old Kelly Gorham was murdered. No one has been charged.
Authorities announced the development after an autopsy on Gorham's body, which was found over the weekend in Stewartstown, N.H. New Hampshire officials said they are still trying to determine the cause of death.
Robert "Sid" Carlson, a private investigator from Northwood, N.H., said his client, Brian Twardus of Rochester, owns the property. Twardus is the father of Gorham's former fiance, 26- year-old Jason Twardus, who lives with him.
Authorities would not say Wednesday whether Jason Twardus is a suspect in the slaying of Gorham.
"No one has been charged. No one has been arrested," said Deputy Attorney General William Stokes, head of the criminal division of the Maine Attorney General's Office. New Hampshire currently has jurisdiction over the case.
Police launched their search for Gorham on Aug. 8 when she failed to arrive at Maine Medical Center in Portland for work and a colleague reported her missing. A search party led by game wardens combed a 20-mile radius around Gorham's apartment the next weekend.
Around that time, the Twardus family hired a private investigator.
Carlson said Jason Twardus has been questioned by police since the disappearance, which came two months after the couple broke off their engagement. He said Twardus denies any involvement in Gorham's death.
The day after they raided the Twardus home in Rochester, investigators headed to Stewartstown. "The father told them where he had a piece of land, and that's where they found the body," Carlson said.
He said he spoke to Jason Twardus around 3 p.m. Wednesday and he maintained his innocence. "I said, 'Everything is pointing to you.' He said, 'I know it is and I'm scared to death.' "
Jason Twardus could not be reached for comment. He has hired a lawyer, Carlson said.
Carlson said the family has identified another of Gorham's ex- boyfriends, a man who once lived with Jason Twardus and traveled to his father's remote property, as a possible suspect.
Gorham, a Southern Maine Community College student, was last seen the night of Aug. 7. Her mother declined to comment Wednesday.
Lt. Brian McDonough, head of the Maine State Police criminal investigations division in southern Maine, said New Hampshire authorities have jurisdiction over the case for now because "the presumption is, at this point, that the homicide occurred there."
Stokes, of the Maine Attorney General's Office, would not say whether suspects or witnesses in Maine are being interviewed.
He said officials held off releasing news about discovery of the body until they notified her family.
Staff Writer David Hench and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Staff Writer Elbert Aull can be contacted at 791-6325 or at:
eaull@pressherald.com
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