Cathy Moulton found herself in a state of heightened anticipation on the afternoon of Friday, September 24, 1971. The 16-year-old harbored plans to rendezvous with several acquaintances at a soirée held later that evening at the YWCA in downtown Portland, Maine a prospect she had eagerly anticipated throughout the week. Crafting a novel skirt for the occasion, her creative pursuit was momentarily stalled when she exhausted her thread supply during the hemming process. Recognizing the need for more, she sought her father's assistance in procuring additional supplies. Her desire extended beyond mere thread; she sought a new pair of pantyhose as well. Consequently, she implored her father to convey her to Portland's bustling downtown shopping precinct, a mere stone's throw from their residence.
Lyman Moulton acquiesced to his daughter's request and chauffeured her to the heart of the city. Prior to their departure, Cathy's mother, Claire, tasked her with acquiring toothpaste during her outing. Equipped with ample funds to cover her necessities and bus fare home, Cathy vowed to return in time for the 6:00 pm family dinner. With this assurance, father and daughter set forth toward downtown.
Around 3:30 pm, Lyman deposited Cathy on Forest Avenue. Subsequently, she traversed her way to Porteous, Mitchell & Braun—a grand department store on Congress Street. Engaging in leisurely perusal within its expansive confines, she eventually procured a spool of thread, a pair of pantyhose, and two tubes of toothpaste. Having time to spare before her bus rendezvous, Cathy opted to pay a visit to a companion at a local music emporium.
By approximately 5:30 pm, Cathy graced the threshold of the Starbird Music store on Forest Avenue. Engaging in conversation with her confidante, Carol Starbird, she revealed her intent to traverse home on foot, having depleted the allocated funds for bus fare. Expressing her desire to partake in the evening's festivities with Carol, Cathy departed the music store in high spirits, pledging to reunite at the dance in a few hours.
Embarking on her homeward journey along Forest Avenue towards Clinton Street, Cathy, a seasoned traveler of this path, should have comfortably arrived for the 6:00 pm family repast. Alas, she never reached her destination.
Cathy, a conscientious adolescent, routinely communicated any delays to her mother. The family's customary 6:00 pm dinner ritual was disrupted as Cathy failed to make her scheduled appearance, triggering immediate concern in Claire. Anxiety gripped her and her spouse as each passing minute deepened the silence from their eldest daughter.
Claire commenced a series of inquiries with Cathy's associates, yet none possessed knowledge of her whereabouts. In desperation, Lyman combed the downtown streets of Portland in search of any trace of his daughter. Ultimately returning home, he urged Claire to involve law enforcement. Contacting the Portland Police Department, Claire was met with a discouraging response, asserting that a missing person report could not be initiated until 72 hours had elapsed since Cathy's disappearance.
Undeterred, Lyman persisted and presented himself at the police station the following day. Despite his justifiable agitation, the officer on duty dismissed his concerns. The prevailing sentiment in 1971, steeped in the era of the flourishing hippie movement, inclined authorities to dismiss missing teenagers as potential runaways seeking refuge in communal living. Advised to return after a few weeks if no word emerged from Cathy, Lyman was incensed at the perceived indifference of law enforcement.
Contrary to the prevailing notion that Cathy might have willingly abandoned her life, those acquainted with her found the notion preposterous. Apart from her purse, she had taken none of her belongings. The insufficiency of funds for bus fare and the lack of resources to finance a city departure rendered the idea of voluntary departure implausible. Regrettably, the authorities remained impervious to the prospect of an abduction.
Initial media coverage of Cathy's disappearance was minimal, with a singular mention in a local newspaper. By October 5th, a spokesperson from the Portland Police Department declared the case stagnant, despite the absence of a thorough investigation. Frustrated by law enforcement's lackadaisical approach, the Moultons enlisted the services of a private investigator.
Cathy, a junior at Deering High School during her disappearance, was a stellar and popular student. She exhibited a passion for poetry and garment crafting, fostering a close relationship with her two younger sisters. Claire, formerly an emergency room nurse turned homemaker, shared an intimate bond with Cathy, engaging in lengthy conversations upon her return from school.
Lyman, proprietor of a used car lot and service station, had temporarily suspended work to embark on a cross-country vacation with his family during the summer. The trip spanned nearly three months, encompassing a drive from coast to coast in the United States and extending into Mexico. Cathy, celebrating her 16th birthday in Williamsburg, Virginia, and receiving a distinctive leather purse in Texas, carried it on the day of her disappearance.
Externally, Cathy began to manifest traces of rebellion unbeknownst to her parents. Though not straying into delinquency, her inclination towards asserting independence manifested in newfound habits. Recently adopting smoking, she likely utilized her bus fare for the acquisition of cigarettes, a clandestine pursuit considering her parents' disapproval.
Concealed from her parents, Cathy frequented a local coffee establishment known as The Gate, attracting an eclectic clientele. It was here that she encountered Chris Church, a Portland photographer. Proposing a photoshoot in his studio, Cathy, though the object of Chris's interest, maintained fidelity to her existing boyfriend, Lester Everett—an association concealed from her parents' awareness.
As weeks transmuted into months with no sign of Cathy, her parents, ignorant of her involvement at The Gate and relationship with an older man, tirelessly distributed missing person flyers in Portland. A neighbor reported a potential sighting of Cathy with two unidentified males in a Bangor shopping mall. Unaware of Cathy's status, the neighbor provided a vague account, contributing to the theory of a voluntary departure. Later, another sighting in Presque Island spurred Lyman and Claire to embark on a four-hour journey, only to discover local authorities unaware of Cathy's disappearance.
Cathy's case remained dormant in cold case archives for over two decades until Detective Kevin Cady assumed responsibility in 1995. Initially confronted with a scant case file, Detective Cady, fueled by determination, initiated an exhaustive reinvestigation. Delving into Cathy's social circle, he unraveled crucial details from her best friend, Nancy Barlow, shedding light on Cathy's association with The Gate and Lester Everett.
Persistent inquiries revealed that Cathy was seen entering a car with Lester after leaving the Starbird Music store. Further exploration led Detective Cady to conclude that Lester, along with a hitchhiker named Reid Perley, embarked on a journey to New Brunswick, Canada, with Cathy in tow. Witness statements identified them at various locations, with Cathy exhibiting signs of distress and restricted autonomy.
Subsequent events saw Cathy at a gas station in Aroostook County, Maine, accompanied by Lester and Reid. Lester's questionable actions, coupled with Reid's domineering behavior, raised suspicions. Their eventual return to the United States, parting ways with Reid at the Tobique reservation, marked a crucial point in Cathy's odyssey. Lester's prolonged absence, purported journeys to Florida, and his later return to Portland without Cathy portrayed a complex narrative.
Detective Cady's pursuit led to the revelation of Cathy's unsettling experiences on a farm near the Canadian border. Cathy's interaction with Millie Augustine, her confidante, unveiled her distress and desire to return home. Lester's indifferent treatment, coupled with Cathy's confined existence within a stolen Cadillac, painted a bleak picture.
Lester's futile attempts to contact Cathy post his return to Portland, coupled with a violent altercation at the Tobique reservation, further complicated the narrative. Detective Cady, despite grappling with a lack of conclusive evidence, leaned towards the belief that Cathy met her demise, potentially at Reid's hands.
Regrettably, Lester's demise in 1985 deprived investigators of crucial insights. Attempts to engage with Reid proved futile, as he adamantly denied any knowledge of Cathy. However, Reid's sister and residents of the Tobique reservation identified Cathy and acknowledged her association with Reid.
In 2015, a tribal elder recalled witnessing a disturbing incident involving Reid dragging a crying woman into a wooded area in late 1971. While inconclusive, Detective Cady, supported by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, conducted searches around the reservation, yielding no trace of Cathy.
Detective Cady, driven by the desire for closure and justice, acknowledges the absence of evidence to definitively prove Cathy's fate. Cathy's case remains unsolved, her presumed abduction and demise occurring at the tender age of 16. A compassionate and artistic soul, Cathy's absence persists as a poignant mystery. With blue eyes, brown hair, braces, and thick glasses, she stands eternally frozen at 5 feet 4 inches and 98 pounds. Her last known attire comprised a navy blue dress, coat, brown leather shoes, and a distinctive brown leather handbag. Despite the passage of time, if you possess any information about Cathy, please contact the Portland Police Department at 207–874–8479.
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