Missing Sanford family last spotted at store in Mexico

Gillian Graham, Portland Press Herald, Maine
·2 min read
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Jul. 8—A family that failed to return home to Sanford from a camping trip last week was last spotted a week ago at the Walmart in Mexico.

Jill Sidebotham, Nicholas Hansen and their daughter, Lydia Hansen, have not been in contact with relatives since last week, and police have been unable to confirm their current whereabouts to check on their wellbeing. Sidebotham's family expected her to return to Sanford with Lydia on June 30.

Lt. Matthew Gagne said Friday that investigators confirmed that the trio were at the Mexico Walmart at 4 p.m. on July 2. He asked for the public's help to locate them in order to be sure that they're OK.

"We have no indication that the family is in danger, but out of caution, we would like to locate them," Gagne said.

The three were last seen by the Sidebotham family on June 27 and were headed to the Franklin County town of Phillips to go camping. Relatives contacted police after mother and daughter did not return home when they said they would. Sidebotham's family told News Center Maine that is unusual for her to be out of contact for so long and that Hansen is her ex-boyfriend.

Hansen is from the Phillips area, Gagne said.

Gagne said the police department has received numerous tips about possible sightings. Police are working with law enforcement partners around the state to try to find them and to locate surveillance video that could confirm places where they've possibly been seen. They may be camping in remote areas without reliable cellphone service, Gagne said.

The Maine Warden Service was notified of the search and checked some areas in Phillips and Township E in Aroostook County on Thursday, but those searches did not turn up any leads or new information, said Mark Latti, spokesman for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Hansen and Sidebotham were last seen driving a 2005 silver VW Jetta with the registration plate 1563VJ.

Anyone who may have seen Sidebotham or Hansen should contact their local police department, Gagne said.