Portland homicide victim remembered as vibrant, loving friend
PORTLAND — Julian Nadeau held close what she loved.
Her clothes, which she wore until they were tattered. Her pins, which she collected and displayed on her backpack. Her friends and loved ones, who she hugged often.
The 21-year-old Portland resident, also known as Juju, was fatally stabbed last week while walking with friends to one of her favorite spots in the city: the colorful wall of graffiti underneath Tukey’s Bridge.
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The group was walking on Back Cove Trail along Interstate 295 on Wednesday evening when a man approached them on a bicycle. They got into an argument and continued walking along the trail when the man pulled out a knife and began chasing Nadeau and her friend, according to court documents.
The man, who police identified as Glen Rodney, 58, of Portland, then jumped on Nadeau and stabbed her in the chest. She died at Maine Medical Center. Rodney was arrested and charged with murder in her death.
Kasper DeWitt, left, and Liz McGehee pose for a portrait together in South Portland on Monday. DeWitt is the partner of Julian “Juju” Nadeau, who was fatally stabbed last week near Tukey’s Bridge; McGehee was one of her best friends and was with Nadeau when she was attacked. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Nadeau’s partner and one of her close friends described her this week as an “angelic” person who cared deeply for others.
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“She was here to make all of us better,” said Liz McGehee, 26, who witnessed the stabbing.
Nadeau was energetic, goofy and vibrant, said her partner, 22-year-old Kasper DeWitt. She was easy to spot in a crowd with her white hat, knee-high Converse and armful of handmade bracelets.
“If you talk to anyone about Juju, they’re gonna tell you her energy and vibe is nonhuman,” DeWitt said.
Nadeau was also a furry — part of a subculture of people who are fans of anthropomorphic animal characters. She’d attend conventions wearing her white, green and pink hyena costume, known as a “fursuit” by members of the fandom.
A photo of her running through the Holiday Inn by the Bay at Portland’s Furcationland in 2025 became a meme among her friends. Being a furry was an integral part of her life, DeWitt said.
Julian Nadeau runs in her fursuit between two other attendees during Portland’s Furcationland in April 2025. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Nadeau also enjoyed doing crafts, climbing, dancing and exploring new places. She was always up for an adventure, like exploring Battery Steele and swimming with friends from Peaks Island to Catnip Island on a whim.
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Her friends say she made lifelong connections everywhere, including at furry conventions and meetups, as well as in her job at McDonald’s in Saco.
McGehee said she met Nadeau at a party during this year’s Anthro New England furry convention in Boston.
“She was the first person I actually met and had a connection with at a convention,” McGehee said. “I was basically glued to her hip since then. She’s been my best friend ever since.”
DeWitt said Nadeau’s personality and kind heart were infectious.
“It’s had such a huge impact on me and my worldview,” DeWitt said. “I just want to spread her love and carry that part of her for the rest of my life. I need to channel her energy forever.”
A small memorial for stabbing victim Julian “Juju” Nadeau sits Monday under Tukey’s Bridge, near where she was killed. The colorful wall of graffiti was one of her favorite spots in the city. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
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Tagged: city of portland, homicide, maine crime, portland police
Morgan covers breaking news and public safety for the Portland Press Herald. Before moving to Maine in 2024, she reported for Michigan State University's student-run publication, as well as the Indianapolis. More by Morgan Womack
