Maine State Police arrested a Bar Harbor man Monday night and charged him with murder in the death of a young local woman whose body was discovered Saturday by a police dog.
Jalique Keene
Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said in a statement late Monday that detectives from the state police Major Crimes Unit had arrested Jalique Keene, 21.
He was charged in connection with the death of 19-year-old Mikaela Conley of Bar Harbor, whose family owns the 2 Cats restaurant on Cottage Street in the Mount Desert Island town.
Conley was reported missing by her family Friday. Posters with her photograph and family contact information were posted around the town.
During a search by local and state police Saturday, a state police dog discovered Conley’s body in a wooded area near the intersection of Route 3 and West Street in Bar Harbor. The woods are near an elementary school.
After the discovery, the state medical examiner’s office conducted an autopsy – which took two days to complete – on Conley’s body.
McCausland said Conley’s death was determined to be a homicide Monday.
Keene was taken into custody Monday night at the Bar Harbor police station.
Police barricaded the intersection of Route 3 and West Street in Bar Harbor on Saturday after the body of Mikaela Conley was found off the road there.
He was taken to the Hancock County Jail, where he is being held without bail pending his initial appearance Tuesday or Wednesday in Hancock County Superior Court in Ellsworth.
McCausland said Conley’s cause of death is not being released at this time.
“We are overwhelmed with the community’s support and outpouring of concern and comments after the tragedy,” the operators of 2 Cats restaurant said in a post Monday morning on Facebook.
“We are open today. Please hold your loved ones close. Life is too short,” the Facebook post said.
People who knew the victim responded on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
“I am heartbroken for all of you. The world is certainly dimmer without her beautiful presence. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers,” Brenda Russell said.
“Your Mikaela brought so much bright joy, presence, and smiles to those around her. I remember her as a little dark haired girl with sweet freckles beneath her dancing eyes, wearing her favorite jean jacket, striped dress and sneakers at Conners Emerson (elementary school),” Angie Bouchard wrote.
Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:
dhoey@pressherald.com
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