The longest manhunt in state history has also turned out to be the most expensive.

Col. Robert Williams of the Maine State Police announced Tuesday that the 68-day manhunt for accused killer Robert Burton will cost the state police about $500,000.

Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, confirmed that the half million dollar cost of the manhunt makes it the most expensive in state history.

This figure does not include costs incurred by the Maine Warden Service, the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office or the FBI. All of those agencies also participated in the massive search.

The 38-year-old Burton has been charged with the June 5 murder of his ex-girlfriend, 37-year-old Stephanie Gebo, at her home in Parkman.

Gebo lived in fear of Burton and slept with gun at her side, according to court affidavits. Her body was discovered by her 13-year-old daughter.

Burton was spotted several times. A home monitoring camera caught him running through a Guilford camp around noon on July 6. Another person spotted Burton climbing into a canoe and rowing across a lake.

Burton walked into the Piscataquis County Jail in Dover-Foxcroft on Aug. 11 and surrendered peacefully.


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