The eerie case of an Arizona man found dead in Maine has taken a bizarre twist, as a former Washburn police officer stands accused of fudging police records tied to the man's disappearance. Erik Foote, a U.S. Army veteran reported missing since January 30, was identified as the body found near the Aroostook River, per the state medical examiner's office. As reported by Fox 10 Phoenix, the cause of death is still under investigation with results "pending" additional tests.
In a twist that has shrouded the case in further uncertainty, Chandler Cole, the now-former Washburn Police officer, was busted on March 29 for allegedly lying on an official document, stating he had delivered Foote to a hospital after a roadside encounter, a statement the hospital refuted, said investigators. According to U.S. News & World Report, Cole, who stepped down from the force in February, has refrained from making any public comments on the matter.
Foote, who had moved to Washburn with his parents about one and a half years prior from Arizona, was last spotted alive on January 30. His family had expressed concern about his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder following his military service. Cole, meanwhile, has been released on $2,500 bail.
The Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office has taken over the case following the deactivation of the Washburn Police Department, which stems from the retirement of the chief and staffing shortages. This new development adds another layer of complexity, to a case that could already be described as anything but straightforward.
