Police: Child's death suspicious

By MICHAEL REAGAN, Blethen Maine News Service

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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BACKGROUND On Tuesday, June 25, Superior Court Justice Thomas Delahanty found Sally Schofield guilty of manslaughter in the death of 5-year-old Logan Marr. Logan was a foster child in Schofield's care. Here are some stories about the case: Full text of the judges ruling Lawmakers vow vigilance on DHS Judge finds Schofield guilty Schofield waives trial by jury Girl's foster mother faces murder charge Foster mom charged in girl's death Police: Child's death suspicious To top of story

CHELSEA — Inconsistencies have caused police to upgrade their investigation into this week's death of Logan Marr, a 5-year-old foster child.

The child died Wednesday evening after she reportedly stopped breathing at home. She was brought by ambulance from her foster home and pronounced dead at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.

State police began investigating, and by Friday afternoon put the death in the suspicious category, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.

"We're doing this because of inconsistencies in information we are getting, which is troubling," he said.

Autopsy results will be final after toxicology tests are completed. The tests are being done in an out-of-state laboratory and could take four to six weeks, according to McCausland.

Detectives continue to talk with Dean and Sally Schofield, Marr's foster parents, as well as with people who might have had contact with the child.

State police Lt. Timothy Doyle said evidence taken from the Schofield house is being analyzed at the crime laboratory in Augusta.

Anyone with information who has not met with detectives can contact the state police at 1-800-452-4664.

At the time of her death, Marr and a half sister lived with the Schofields and their two biological children.

The Department of Human Services removed the half sister from the home Wednesday night, according to Doyle.

The Schofields have lived on Skyline Road in Chelsea since 1998, according to Robert Drisko, Chelsea town manager.

Marr attended kindergarten at Chelsea Elementary School. Lyford Beverage, superintendent of School Union 51, would not say how long she attended the school.

On Thursday morning, a crisis re- sponse team was ready at the school to counsel students, faculty and staff grieving Marr's death.

Beverage, whose district includes six towns and six schools, said, "The loss of any one child is huge," he said. "It's devastating."

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