Police investigating death of Mount Desert woman, 2 children found in submerged car

Maine State Police Investigating Triple Deaths After Vehicle Found Submerged in Pond Cove

Maine State Police are probing the sudden deaths of a 61‑year‑old woman and her two young grandchildren, whose bodies were recovered from a submerged car in Roque Bluffs’ Pond Cove on Sunday morning.

Who

The victims were Sharon Bukulmez, 61, of Mount Desert; her 5‑year‑old granddaughter Kinsley Grubb; and her 3‑year‑old grandson Sawyer Grubb, both from Bar Harbor. Bukulmez had recently attended a family gathering in Jonesboro with the children.

What

Authorities recovered the bodies and the vehicle from the water at around 7 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle, still submerged, was found at the shore of Pond Cove near a boat ramp on Schoppee Point Road. The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unknown as the state police launch a full investigation.

When

Bukulmez and the children were last seen leaving the family function around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night. They were expected to arrive in Machias later that evening but never did. Calls from concerned relatives prompted a search that night, culminating in the discovery of the wrecked vehicle the next morning.

Where

The incident occurred in Roque Bluffs’ Pond Cove, a small inlet on the coast near Machias. The vehicle was located close to a boat ramp on Schoppee Point Road, which led investigators to the scene. After the bodies were retrieved, they were transported to Augusta, where the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct a post‑mortem examination to determine cause and manner of death.

Why

No definitive cause of the incident has yet been established. The Maine State Police are still piecing together the events that led to the tragedy, and no foul play has been ruled out. The investigation continues as officials sift through phone data, witness statements, and physical evidence from the submerged vehicle.

Investigation Details

The Bar Harbor Police Department first began the search after receiving calls from relatives who had not seen Bukulmez and the children that evening. Using location information from Bukulmez’s phone, the department identified that she was near the water at the boat ramp. Troopers from the Maine State Police joined a dive team and Marine Patrol to locate the victims.

Upon discovery, the car’s interior was found to contain the bodies of all three individuals. The vehicle was then recovered for forensic examination, and the bodies were taken to Augusta for an autopsy.

Community Impact

The news of the triple death has sent shockwaves through the local communities of Mount Desert, Jonesboro, and Bar Harbor, where the family had ties. Friends and neighbors are mourning the loss of a grandmother and her two grandsons, and many have called for swift answers to the questions surrounding the incident.

Next Steps

Law enforcement officials say they are working closely with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and with the families’ attorneys to disclose findings as soon as the post‑mortem examinations are complete. For now, the circumstances of how the vehicle entered the water and why the children and their grandmother were inside remain unanswered.

The Maine State Police will continue to investigate all aspects of the case and urge anyone with additional information to come forward. The community watches with heavy hearts as the search for answers continues.