Missing Husband Found Dead & Wife Rescued Alive in Maine

A missing 82-year-old man was found dead and his 72-year-old wife was rescued alive after a search for the married couple in Alexander on Thursday.

Husband Found Dead and Wife Rescued Alive

The Maine Warden Service said Warden Jake Voter and K9 Koda located Pamela Helmstadter alive at 2:30 pm in a forested area over a mile from their home.

Husband Found Deceased

Game Warden Kayle Hamilton and K9 Ash located her deceased husband, John Helmstadter, approximately 200 yards away at 3:00 pm.

Wife had Severe Hypothermia

Pamela had severe hypothermia, but was alert. She was with her black lab. She was taken to Calais Community Hospital for treatment. Her body temperature was 90.7 when she was found.

Couple got Lost in the Woods

Pamela told Wardens that she and her husband went for a walk on the trails in the woods behind their house with their dog on Sunday and got lost.

Wife got Lost Looking for Help

They got off the trails as they walked and the husband fell and could not get back up. The wife went for help and got disoriented.

Woman Heard Search Plane

“She said she had given up hope of being found, but heard the Warden Service Airplane circling over her five different times and it gave her hope that she would be found,” said Mark Latti, Communications Director, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.

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Neighbor Called Sheriff’s Office

A neighbor who checks on the couple called the Washington County Sheriff’s Office after seeing no sign of the couple and a package she brought in the house on Tuesday was in the same place she put it.

Agencies Involved in Search

Game Wardens searched with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Maine Forest Service and Maine Search and Rescue Dogs.

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