NEW PORTLAND – Despite rumors circulating to the contrary, there are no new developments in the investigation of who killed Louise Brochu in June of 2007, according to State Police.
Brochu, 50, was found dead at the Wood Flooring mill complex of building she owned and where she lived alone off Route 27. A former employee at the mill, who said he was supposed to meet Brochu at the mill but couldn’t find her on the morning of June 8, called police. After a quick search of the grounds, police found her body. No other details about the homicide have been released in order to preserve the investigation, police said at the time.
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Lt. Gary Wright of the Maine State Police said today, “Detective Adam Kelley, who is the primary on the case, is continuing to follow up any leads. Hopefully there will be a development.” Wright urged anyone with information about the case should call 624-7143 or 1-800-452-4662.
The Brochu family has offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for her death.
Louise Brochu was a co-owner with her brother Jim Brochu at J&L Brochu, Inc. of Stratton, a logging and construction operation. In 2003, the Brochu brothers Jim, Guy, Luke with Louise, bought the New Portland Wood Flooring at auction for reportedly $500,000. In 2005, Louise and her friend Claude Boulet took over the flooring business. She fixed up the main house where she lived and an apartment for Boulet to stay at during the work week. On weekends, he drove back to Quebec to be with his family.
The wood flooring business struggled, Jim Brochu said earlier in an interview, so his sister decided in January 2007 to put the mill’s complex up for sale. It was listed at $1.5 million on a Web site featuring real estate properties for sale. Not finding a buyer, Louise Brochu shut the mill down for good on June 1. One week later, either on the night of June 7 or early on June 8 police said “an individual or individuals” killed her. She was reportedly home alone at the time.
After his sister’s death, Jim Brochu put the property up for sale with another, local real estate company, where it remains on the market.
As for the rumors, Wright said, “nothing’s changed.”
