MDIFW NEWS: Maine Warden Service Assists with Rescue of Four Children Missing From Group Home in Ellsworth

December 16, 2024

MDIFW NEWS: Maine Warden Service Assists with Rescue of Four Children Missing From Group Home in Ellsworth

Editor's Note: The attached image shows Game Wardens Eric Rudolph and Matt Tenan with Ellsworth Police Sgt. Chad Wilmont and a member of the Mariaville Fire Department pulling a canoe with one of the rescued children back across the frozen marsh to safety.

ELLSWORTH, Maine - On Sunday, December 15 at 2:27 PM Maine Warden Service was notified that four children were missing from a group home in Ellsworth. It was reported that the children were dressed in pajamas and not prepared for the cold weather conditions. Rescuers were also concerned about the proximity of the group home to Graham Lake and the Union River, where ice conditions are currently very dangerous.

Maine Warden Service responded with nine game wardens, an aircraft, airboat and K9 team and were supported by staff from Ellsworth Police Department, Ellsworth Fire Department, Mariaville Fire Department, Penobscot Nation Warden Service, Maine Marine Patrol, and Maine Forest Service.

Game Warden Eric Rudolph was the first warden to arrive on scene and initially conducted a search of the woods road where an officer from Ellsworth Police Department had located one of the childrens jackets. The road leads to a gravel pit that Warden Rudolph believed would be a likely route of travel for the children. Once Warden Rudloph arrived in the gravel pit, he spotted what he believed to be one of the children on a nearby island on Graham Lake, which was across the ice from the gravel pit. Warden Rudolph crossed the ice and found the child who was wet and hypothermic. The child told Warden Rudolph that his friend had fallen through the ice and pointed to an area further up the lake. Warden Rudolph provided the information to Game Warden Pilot Chris Hilton who continued to search from the air while Warden Rudolph took the child back across the lake to an officer from Ellsworth Police Department.

At the same time, Ellsworth Police Sergeant Chad Wilmont located another one of the children on the ice near Rt. 179 and was able to bring the child back to his police cruiser.

Game Warden Pilot Chris Hilton was able to locate the two other children on the ice and could see that one of the children had fallen through and was clinging to the edge of the ice. Warden Rudolph and Corporal Rob Angelo from Ellsworth Police Department ran to the area where Warden Pilot Hilton had located the two children, but they were not able to reach the children because of the ice conditions. Ellsworth Fire Department personnel arrived with two canoes and Captain Tyler Kennedy and Firefighter/EMT Beau Parker were able to cross the thin ice and rescue the two children. They were then able to bring the two children back across the ice and to safety.

Three of the children were transported to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital to be treated for exposure and hypothermia.

Maine Game Wardens remind everyone that the risks of venturing onto thin ice are very real for people of any age, and prioritizing ice safety is important for people of all experience levels recreating on Maines waters in winter. Find ice safety reminders and tips at mefishwildlife.com/icesafety

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