Boothbay Harbor, Maine: Parents And Son's Deaths Baffle Town

The town of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, is reeling from the mysterious deaths of some of its popular residents from still undetermined circumstances Sunday. Their bodies were found in two separate houses and police reported that they are those of a married couple, Svend Jorgensen, 71, and Carol Jorgensen, 75, and Eric Jorgensen, their 40-year-old son.

Svend and his wife were the first to be discovered after a well-being check requested by someone in their Lakeside Drive neighborhood, reported CBS. The body of their son was found later at the family's Montgomery Road property, which is just three miles away, reported the Boston Globe. Initial investigations revealed that the cause and manner of death indicated no one else was involved other than the victims. Authorities were not able to provide more details as the autopsies are still being done by the medical examiner.

The Jorgensen family is well-known around town and highly regarded by their friends, who expressed disbelief and shock at the sudden turn of events. Svend and Carol were retirees; Eric was an accomplished high school teacher at Catherine McAuley High School in Portland, teaching social studies and history, according to ABC News.

Tony Hely, an acquaintance, said Svend and Carol were friendly and delightful people, while their son was "happy-go-lucky, positive and successful," reported the Boston Globe.

Neighbors also noted that Svend served on Boothbay's planning board, and his wife was employed at the Portland International Jetport and played alto saxophone with her high school's alumni band members.

The Boothbay Harbor community's shock has been aggravated so far by their unanswered questions about what happened, including the reason behind the deaths. "You just can't cope with it. It's such a disaster," said Loraine Nickerson, a neighbor, according to the Boston Globe. "Everybody in the Harbor loved them."

Tags

Maine