Deaths of Maine grandmother, grandkids in submerged car found not suspicious, state police say
Submerged Vehicle in Pond Cove Reveals Tragic Loss of 61‑Year‑Old Maine Woman and Two Children
A car that had plunged into the ocean off a rocky beach in Roque Bluffs has yielded the bodies of Sharon Bukulmez, 61, and her two grandchildren, Kinsley Grubb, 5, and Sawyer Grubb, 3. The three were found inside the vehicle near Pond Cove on Sunday morning, hours after the family’s last known call.
The family had gathered in Jonesboro for a wedding on Saturday night. Bukulmez left the ceremony at about 8:30 p.m. with the children, who were on their way to Machias to visit a family friend. The drive was brief—only about 10 minutes on U.S. Route 1—but the group never reached Machias. That evening, relatives reached out to police to report the disappearance.
Investigators later located the car at the public boat launch on Schoppee Point Road, a small stretch of asphalt that ends in the ocean at Roque Bluffs, a Down East community with fewer than 300 residents. The vehicle, a Subaru, was found fully submerged in Pond Cove. The last GPS ping from Bukulmez’s cell phone came from the same area, about eight miles southeast of Jonesboro, placing the family near the launch site when the crash occurred.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office released a statement that the deaths “are not believed to be suspicious” and said investigators were still piecing together the chain of events. A spokesperson from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Monday that autopsies had not yet been completed and that the cause and manner of death were still under investigation. “It’s going to be a long and thorough investigation,” said State Police spokesperson Shannon Moss. “Hopefully we can get the cause and manner in the next few days.”
While the investigation is ongoing, police have not identified any signs of foul play or evidence that a medical event, alcohol or drugs were involved. The weather that evening was clear and no fog was reported, according to Moss. The stretch of road that leads to the boat launch is largely unlit, and two large fluorescent “ROAD ENDS” signs mark the point where the asphalt drops into the water; the signs are not illuminated at night.
The scene is not without precedent. In 2013, two hikers were found dead in a submerged minivan at the same boat launch after fog made the slope of the road difficult to see. In 2005, Jason Alexander, a former Washington County resident, had nearly driven into the water while unfamiliar with the road; he escaped unharmed after a “splash” that left his windows submerged. Alexander said the warning sign marking the end of the road was obscured by overgrown bushes.
The loss has struck the small Down East community hard. Jennifer Sargent, who runs the Southwest Harbor child‑care center that served Kinsley and Sawyer, has announced a basketball scholarship in memory of the younger Grubb, who loved the sport. POP Thrift in nearby Bernard has pledged to donate all proceeds from Wednesday onward to the family. Store owner Erin Helget said, “We had the privilege of attending their wedding just days ago, which makes the news of this tragedy feel especially difficult to put into words.”
Sargent reflected on the children’s friendship, noting that they were inseparable in the center’s activities. “Answering to other small children when they ask us where their best friends are this week will likely take us right out, but we will do our best,” she posted.
The investigation continues as police work to determine how the car left the shore. At present, the authorities maintain that the deaths are not suspicious, but a definitive explanation will await the medical examiner’s findings. The community in and around Roque Bluffs, Jonesboro, and Machias is offering support and memorials to the family during this tragic time.
