According to the State Medical Examiner’s office, Rev. Bob Carlson, who was found dead in the Penobscot River, committed suicide. Carlson was under investigation into child abuse allegations.
WCSH6 reported that Rev. Carlson’s body was found Sunday morning in a river in Bucksport near Penobscot Narrows Bridge, and his car was also found abandoned on the Bridge.
According to a spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, Stephen McCausland, the minister has been under investigation by state police since last Thursday.
The investigation began after a request letter from the Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office.
“State police began an investigation of Carlson and this was after the DA’s office had received a letter,” said McCausland according to Sunjournal.
Carlson was the subject of a state police investigation into child abuse allegations made against him. The child abuse case was from the 1970s involving him and an 11-year-old boy.
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According to McCausland, the investigation will remain open and the police will be interviewing additional people.
“In light of his demise that does not complicate things, although obviously we will not be able to talk to him about these allegations that we may have as a result of the interviews that have taken place, and the subsequent interviews that may come in,” McCausland has said.
Family members of a man who allegedly suffered abuse have spoken out.
Dawn Krog of Bowdoin, the sister of the alleged victim told the Bangor Daily News that her family knew about the relationship.
“My brother came clean to the family” years ago about the ongoing sexual relationship with Carlson, said Krog. “Bob had been part of his life since he was 12-years-old.”
The reason why her brother never went to the police, she said, was because Carlson befriended Krog’s mother at that time. Back then Carlson was a pastor at Orrington.
About six people have been interviewed by Maine State Police and the investigation into the incident will continue, according to the detectives.
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