Missing Maine couple located, but one had succumbed to elements

John and Pamela Helmstadter (Courtesy photos)

ALEXANDER, Maine - Maine Game Wardens and warden K9s located a missing Alexander couple Thursday afternoon, but sadly one of them had not survived.

Game Warden Jake Voter and K9 Koda located 72-year-old Pamela Helmstadter at 2:30 p.m. in a forested area over a mile from their home, and Game Warden Kayle Hamilton and K9 Ash located her 82-year-old husband John at 3 p.m., about 200 yards from Pamela.

Pamela was found severely hypothermic but alert with her dog by her side. She was transported to Calais Community Hospital by Downeast EMS for observation. Her body temperature was 90.7 when she was found, but she was able to discuss what had occurred.

The couple had gone for a walk with their dogs on Sunday in the woods behind their home, where there is a network of trails. During their walk they had gotten off one of the trails, and then John fell and was unable to get up. Neither of them had cell phones with them, and Pamela went to get help, but got disoriented in the woods and could not get home, according to a statement from the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

She said she had given up hope of being found, but on Thursday heard the Warden Service Airplane circling over her five different times, and it gave her hope that she would be found.

A neighbor who checks on them had seen a package on their porch, and brought it inside their house on Tuesday. The same friend called the Sheriff's office Wednesday when she saw the package was still in the house in the same place where she had put it, and that one of the dogs had returned but there was no sign of Pamela, John and their other dog.

Game Wardens, along with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, began searching Wednesday night and were joined by members of Maine Forest Service and Maine Search and Rescue Dogs.