Local News
47-Year-Old Bette Reilly Found Dead in Scarborough Pond After Reported Missing
SCARBOROUGH, Maine — A missing Westbrook woman was found dead Sunday afternoon after an extensive search at a pond near Pleasant Hill Road in Scarborough, according to local authorities.
The victim has been identified as Bette Reilly, 47, of Westbrook, who was last seen walking along the edge of a pond before she disappeared.
According to the Scarborough Police Department, officers and firefighters responded at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday to the Pleasant Hill Driving Range, located at 132 Pleasant Hill Road, after receiving a report of a missing 47-year-old woman.
Investigators determined that Reilly had last been seen walking along the water’s edge near the pond before she could no longer be located.
As the search intensified, the Maine Warden Service Dive Team was called to assist.
Dive team members searched the pond and located Reilly’s body in approximately nine feet of water.
Despite the recovery efforts, Reilly was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said Reilly’s body has been transported to the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.
Investigators have not released any information indicating what led to Reilly entering the water, and officials have not announced whether foul play is suspected.
The Scarborough Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Reilly’s death in coordination with the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Officials said the investigation remains active, and additional information is expected to be released once the medical examiner completes the examination and investigators gather further evidence.
The death of Bette Reilly has left family, friends, and members of both the Westbrook and Scarborough communities mourning her loss as authorities work to determine exactly what happened.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — A 62-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning after a small aircraft crashed in a field in the Whiton community of DeKalb County, Alabama, authorities said.
The victim was identified as Douglas Emge, 62, of Whiton. Emergency crews responded to the crash along County Road 3, where the single-engine aircraft came down behind the Whitton water tank.
According to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, emergency personnel were dispatched to the area following reports of the aircraft crash. DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Posey confirmed that one person died in the incident.
An FAA spokesperson said a Van’s RV-4 crashed in a field near Albertville at approximately 6:50 a.m. The aircraft had only one person aboard, and Emge was the pilot.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also participating. Investigators will work to determine what caused the aircraft to go down.
Officials have not released a cause of the crash, and the investigation remains ongoing. Additional information is expected as investigators examine the aircraft, crash site and other available evidence.
The City of Albertville issued a statement mourning Emge, describing him as a longtime and prominent member of the Albertville Regional Airport community.
According to the city, Doug Emge was the face of Albertville Regional Airport for more than 30 years and was the founder and sole owner of Albertville Aviation, which operated the airport’s fixed-base operator, or FBO.
The city said Emge was known for helping pilots, flight crews and passengers who arrived at the airport, providing assistance with fuel, rental cars, lodging and recommendations in the community.
Albertville officials also described Emge as a Marine veteran, pilot, husband, father and grandfather. The city extended its condolences to his wife, Stacy, his family and the staff and colleagues at Albertville Regional Airport.
The City of Albertville said Emge’s contributions to the airport, the city and the wider Sand Mountain community would not soon be forgotten.
Emergency crews and investigators remained at the scene as authorities continued their response.
Officials asked members of the public to avoid the area while emergency personnel work at the crash site and the investigation gets underway.
The cause of the fatal DeKalb County plane crash remains under investigation by the NTSB and FAA.