March 5

Remains confirmed as Maine boatbuilding students

By Edward D. Murphy emurphy@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

KENNEBUNKPORT — Remains found last month on Vaughn's Island have been identified as the two boatbuilding school students who disappeared in December and were presumed drowned after a search turned up evidence pointing to that outcome.

click image to enlarge

Zachary Wells, left, and Prescott Wright

Mark Belserene, office administrator for the Maine medical examiner, said Tuesday that DNA tests conducted at the Maine State Police crime lab confirmed the remains were Zachary Wells, 21, of Burlington, Vt., and 23-year-old Prescott Wright of Barnstable, Mass.

Wells and Wright were last seen at a late-night party at Wells' home in Kennebunkport on Dec. 20. The men were students at The Landing School in Arundel.

Belserene said the office hasn't yet determined a cause of death. He said toxicology tests would be conducted and officials were hopeful of getting results because the remains were relatively well-preserved due to being in cold water.

Toxicology tests will take six to eight more weeks to complete, he said.

During the search for the two men, officials found some of their clothing but could not locate their bodies.

Authorities said they believed the two men had gone off in a boat.

The search, which included sonar and divers looking in the waters around Kennebunkport, was called off after a few days because of the likelihood that the two had not survived and due to an approaching storm.

Staff Writer Edward D. Murphy can be contacted at 791- 6465 or at:

emurphy@pressherald.com

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