Photo: WAGM-TV
Erik Foote was last seen alive walking down a road on January 30, 2024. He was reportedly distressed and on foot. His last known confirmed contact was with Sgt. Chandler Cole of the Washburn Police Department who saw him walking and picked him up. When he never returned again, his family repeatedly called police to report the 39-year-old as missing. They were connected to Sgt. Cole who told them that he had dropped him off at the hospital.
As the missing persons investigation began, it was discovered that Sgt. Cole had written a routine report about picking up Foote and in this version, he stated that he had dropped him off at a convenience store. Forensics showed the police report had been altered by Cole from convenience store to “drop-off at hospital.” The hospital had no record of this claim.
Further investigation revealed that he had never arrived at the hospital nor was he ever seen at the convenience store. It is unknown why Sgt. Cole is lying about where he took Foote who has not been seen since being given a ride by Cole. On the date of disappearance, the temperature in Washburn, Maine was 30 Fahrenheit and it is unlikely that Foote could survive in the elements for the prolonged period that he has been missing.
His mother told Bangor Daily News that he was a very kind young man who was in poor physical health and had PTSD because he was a military vet from Korea and Iraq but that he was a very kind and gentle person. His family questions why Sgt. Cole lied repeatedly and changed his statements and why he quit his job after the investigation began. Cole was arrested and released on $2,500 bond for the charges of tampering with records and related charges.
Erik Foote
In the process of the investigation, the Washburn police chief quit his job. The town was left without a police chief and called in the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office to take over. This office is currently also investigating the disappearance of Erik Foote. The community continues to organize search parties for the missing man.
Sgt. Chandler Cole is still not talking
