Authorities in Augusta, Maine have identified the body of a man pulled from the Kennebec River as Justin M. Larrabee, 40, who was wanted in connection with a domestic violence incident. The discovery was made on Tuesday morning, July 9, 2024 near the Cushnoc Crossing Bridge, ending a search that began the previous Friday.
On July 5, Augusta police responded to a report of domestic assault on Riverside Drive. Larrabee had allegedly threatened his parents with a firearm before fleeing the scene. The police issued a shelter-in-place order for the area, warning residents that Larrabee was considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. His vehicle was located but despite an extensive search, Larrabee evaded capture.
The search concluded at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday when police received a report of a body in the Kennebec River near the Cushnoc Crossing Bridge. Officers recovered the body and later identified it as Larrabee. The Augusta Police Department confirmed his identity and notified his family.
Augusta police have been actively investigating the case. In a press release, they stated, “Officers were eventually able to recover and positively identify the male as Justin M. Larrabee.” The release added, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
Larrabee’s history with the law includes charges of defacing the Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial over the 2023 Memorial Day weekend. His actions had already put him under scrutiny, and the incident on July 5 escalated the situation significantly.
Chief Kevin Lully of the Augusta Police Department acknowledged his team’s challenges during the incident, noting that communication could have been better. He stated, “We are not used to responding to situations that require emergency notifications,” citing limited staff contributing to the delayed communication.
The search and subsequent recovery operation were intensive. The police closed off the area around Riverside Drive during their search, reopening it to motorists at 2 a.m. on Saturday and lifting the shelter-in-place order.