Authorities are investigating the homicide of a 14-year-old girl in Mount Vernon, Maine.
The teen's mother came home to find her dead around 6 p.m. Monday, state police said. Her death was initially deemed suspicious, but the medical examiner's office determined Wednesday that she had been killed.
State police identified the teen Thursday as Brooke McLaughlin. She was a seventh grade student at Maranacook Community Middle School, School Superintendent Jay Charette said in a message posted to the school district's website Thursday.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news that Brooke McLaughlin, a 7th grade student from Maranacook Community Middle School and resident of Mount Vernon has passed away," Charette said. "Although we don’t know the circumstances of this tragic event we are working with various agencies to offer our support in a timely and appropriately sensitive manner to our students and staff given the nature of this tragedy. More information on how and where to access support services will be released shortly."
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The mother told police one of her vehicles was missing from her driveway, and investigators searched overnight for the red 2010 Chevrolet Impala. That car was found Tuesday in nearby Wayne.
The car was taken without the owner's permission Monday afternoon, authorities said.
No arrests have been made yet, and detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding McLaughlin's death.
