Maine State Police Investigating Deaths of 3 Found in Submerged Vehicle

According to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety's Shannon Moss, the Maine State Police are investigating the deaths of a Mount Desert woman and her two young grandchildren after their vehicle was found submerged in Pond Cove in Roque Bluffs Sunday morning.

Authorities say 61-year-old Sharon Bukulmez of Mount Desert was last seen around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, September 19, after leaving a family gathering in Jonesboro with her grandchildren, 5-year-old Kinsley Grubb and 3-year-old Sawyer Grubb, both of Bar Harbor.

The three were traveling to Machias but never arrived as expected. After family members raised concerns, law enforcement began searching for them.

As part of the search, the Bar Harbor Police Department obtained cellphone location information that indicated Bukulmez's phone was in the water near the boat ramp at the end of Schoppee Point Road in Roque Bluffs.

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Maine State Police responded, along with members of the Maine State Police Dive Team and Maine Marine Patrol. At approximately 7 AM Sunday, the vehicle was located submerged in Pond Cove.

Bukulmez and both children were found inside the vehicle and recovered from the water.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Coast Guard also assisted at the scene.

The three bodies were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where autopsies will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. Maine State Police say no additional information is being released at this time.