WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Four Years Later, Maitland Still Missing

Four Years Later, Maitland Still Missing

Enosburg Falls, Vermont - March 19, 2008

Two small candles placed on a memorial in Enosburg Falls on Wednesday night commemorated the day when 17-year-old Brianna Maitland vanished. Four years later police say they are still getting leads but have no idea what happened to Maitland

Maitland was last seen on March 19, 2004, leaving work at the Black Lantern Inn. Her car was found a day later, abandoned behind an empty building off Route 118.

In the years since, police have followed tips that said she was involved in illegal drug activity. Now police say there is no evidence to back that up.

They've also followed tips that a girl who looked like Maitland was seen in Atlantic City. Investigators from Vermont traveled to Atlantic City, but were never able to track down the girl people reportedly saw, so they couldn't confirm if she was or was not Maitland.

Mja Inc. Investigations, a private investigation firm, is also searching for Maitland. Members of the agency are the ones who held the small memorial for Maitland on Wednesday. They took over after the friend who put on the vigil in years past said she couldn't do it this year.

"Things like this has to keep going on for the missing," said Mark Harper, of Mja. "Once it stops it's hard to get the momentum back. You got to keep the case out to the public."

Harper says he is frustrated because usually this long into an investigation he has some idea of what happened to the missing person.

In the last ten months police have gone back over every piece of evidence. They have conducted dozens of interviews and followed a number of new leads but nothing that's brought them closer to solving the mystery.

"We are still optimistic that we, there's information out there, that someone may have information that's going to lead us in the right direction, and we'll be able to find out what happened to her," said Vermont State Police Lt. Glenn Hall.

Police say it's not unusual for people to have information about a case without realizing it. They are asking anyone who knows something, even if it seems trivial, to contact the State Police in St. Albans.

Bianca Slota - WCAX News