The Portland Police Department says it’s made significant progress clearing up unsolved homicides cases in the past several years.

They list one example as Shane Hall’s sentencing this week for manslaughter in a stabbing death from 2008.

Hall will serve 25 years, with all but 15 years suspended, along with four years’ probation in the stabbing death of Frank Williams.

Officers say it’s the fourth unsolved homicide case in which charges have been brought in recent years.

They say the Criminal Investigations Division has made arrests in 25 percent of its unsolved cases (4 out of 16) in the last five years.

Officers credit the assignment of two detectives to work full time on their unsolved homicide cases in 2020, with the addition of a third officer since then.

Portland Police are asking for public help to solve the remaining 12 unsolved homicides.

Information on those cases is listed below:

Mary Ann Deragon – September 12, 1985

Mary Ann was 32 years old when her body was discovered at the Riverton School in the Woodline near Farnham Street. Her death is the oldest unsolved homicide being investigated.

Investigator: Detective Napijalo (207) 874-8906 / Detective Shinay (207) 874-8595

Scott Sampson – November 13, 1990

On November 13, 1990, at 1:53 a.m., Portland Police Officers responded to 64 Pine Street for an unconscious male on the sidewalk in front of Pine Street Variety. When officers arrived, they found Scott Sampson deceased. The ensuing investigation determined Sampson’s death to be a homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time.

Investigator: Detective Hagerty (207) 874-8602

Henry Champagne – February 15, 1991

On February 15, 1991, Portland Police responded to 633 Congress Street, Apartment 10, to check on the well-being of 62-year-old Henry Champagne. Officers discovered Champagne deceased, and he was last seen alive on February 13, 1991. His cause of death has not been released.

Investigator: Det. Napijalo (207) 874-8906 / Detective Shinay (207) 874-8595

Sarina Towle – March 25, 1994

On the morning of March 25, 1994, 2-year-old Sarina “Pretty” Towle was found murdered in her bedroom on Danforth Street. She lived there with her mother, two brothers, and her mother’s boyfriend. The cause of death is not being released.

Investigator: Det. J. Brown (207) 8474-8529 / Det. Rider (207) 874-8524

Maude Holden – October 27, 1994

On October 27, 1994, 73-year-old Maude Holden died due to complications resulting from a structure fire in the apartment building where she lived at 527-529 Washington Avenue. The structure consisted of six apartments on three floors. The fire was ruled arson. Holden was trapped in the building by the fire, preventing her escape.

Investigator: Det. Hagerty (207) 874-8602

Robert Joyal – April 4, 1998

On April 4, 1998, at 1:00 a.m., Robert Joyal was with friends at the Denny’s restaurant at 1091 Congress Street. During an altercation involving a large group of individuals, Joyal was stabbed and died as a result of the sustained wounds.

Investigator: Det. Tully (207) 874-8550

James Angelo – September 7, 2008

On September 7, 2008, Portland Police Officers responded to the Mercy Hospital parking lot on Winter Street at approximately 4:00 a.m. The victim was 27-year-old James Angelo, a security guard at Mercy Hospital, who had been conducting a check of the doctors’ parking lot when he was shot and killed.

Investigator: Det. Hagerty (207) 874-8602 / Det. Townsend (207) 874-8606

Than Yim – December 20, 2009

In the early morning hours of December 20, 2009, 33-year-old Than Yim died from wounds he had received during an altercation involving a large group of individuals in the parking lot of Thanh Thanh Bida Club at 250 Read Street. The cause of death is not being released.

Investigator: Det. Googins (207) 874-8151 / Det. Brown (207) 874-8529

Darien Richardson – January 8, 2010

In the early morning hours of January 8, 2010, while 25-year-old Darien Richardson and her boyfriend, Corey Girard were sleeping, they were shot by intruders in their bedroom at 25 Rackleff Street. Both Richardson and Girard were treated at the hospital and were expected to recover; however, Richardson later died from sustained injuries.

Investigator: Det. Tully (207) 874-8550 / Det. Druan (207) 874-8592

Taquan Samuels – July 25, 2010

In the early morning hours of July 25, 2010, 22-year-old Taquan Samuels was shot and killed as he was leaving a party at 55 Allen Avenue. Samuels, a resident of Brooklyn, NY, had recently moved to the 55 Allen Avenue Apartments.

Investigator: Det. Townsend (207) 874-8606 / Det. Curlee (207) 874-8907

Bryan Garcia – February 27, 2017

On February 27, 2017, Scarborough resident Bryan “Kage” Garcia was found deceased in his car on Chadwick Street in Portland’s West End.

Investigator: Det. Townsend (207) 874-8606

Sunao Yamada – September 10, 2017

On September 10, 2017, 54-year-old Sunao “Thomas” Yamada was found deceased near Temple Street. The cause of death has not been released.

Investigator: Det. Townsend (207) 874-8606

 

Portland Police urge anyone, who may have any information related to the remaining unsolved cases to please reach out. Any detail, no matter how small, could be an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to solving these crimes. Please contact the detective listed on the website with each case, or, you may call (207) 874-8575. You may also text the keyword PPDME and your message to 847411.

For more information on the remaining cold cases, please visit: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/1231/Unsolved-Homicides

To provide information anonymously:

Call 207-874-8584 and leave a message on the department’s Crime Tip line

Text keyword “PPDME” plus the message to 847411 (TIP411).