SCARBOROUGH – The Scarborough Police Department is turning to Facebook in hopes of finally solving two decades-old homicides.

Launched late last week, the new page asked the public for help solving the murders of Susan Hannah, age 22 when last seen in 1992, and Ashley Ouellette, just 15 when she was killed in 1999.

“These are cases that have bothered us for some time,” said Chief Robert Moulton, saying that idea of turning to Facebook arose at a conference he attended late last year, where other departments reported success with the tactic.

“We’d like to be able to give the families some closure,” said Moulton. “We believe there are people out there that who know things that might be of value.”

Suspects were interviewed in both cases, although no hard evidence was ever uncovered that led to an arrest.

Scarborough police hope the new page, which it plans to update weekly, will generate the one tip that could be the crack detectives need to catch a killer and close either case.

“Investigations are much like puzzles. Each small piece in itself may appear to be trivial but when placed with other pieces of information it can lead an investigator in the right direction,” wrote Scarborough Crime Analyst Jaime Higgins, who maintains the page.

“Our intent is to try to post information from their family and friends weekly,” wrote Higgins. “We strongly encourage that anyone who has the smallest bit of information to please come forward and help us solve these cases. Please help up by liking and sharing this new page.”

Hannah was reportedly estranged from her husband and living with her mother on Snow Road on April 19, 1992, when was last seen at the Whaler bar in Old Orchard Beach around 1:20 a.m. She was reported missing the next day, but 20 months would pass before her remains were found in a wooded area by a logging trail off Route 117 in Limington on Nov. 14, 1993.

Ouellette, meanwhile, was found dead in the middle of Pine Point Road at 4 a.m. on Feb. 10, 1999. Police suspect she was strangled. She was last seen at 2 a.m. at the home of friends in Saco where she spent the night.

The new Facebook page has proven popular, garnering 627 “likes” and dozens of comments in the five days since it launched. Among the memories are several poignant letters to the victims, as well as one directed at Hannah’s killer.

Anyone with information in these cases can call Scarborough authorities. Detective Sgt. Rick Rouse is handling the Hannah case. He can be reached at 730-4310. Detective Donald Blatchford, who is maintaining the Ouellette file, is available at 730-4312.

Ashley OuelletteSusan HannahA memorial to Ashley Ouellette erected in February 2011 near the spot on Pine Point Road in Scarborough where Ouellette’s body was found on Feb. 10, 1999.