In late summer of 1990, a mother in central Maine seemed to slip quietly out of her own life. Shirley McAvoy had been navigating a painful separation, leaning on friends and trying to rebuild a sense of normalcy. Then, shortly before a scheduled court date related to her pending divorce, she simply disappeared.

Days turned into weeks, and small, unsettling details began to surface—things that didn’t fit with the idea of someone who’d chosen to leave. What started as a missing persons case slowly transformed into something far more disturbing, stretching well beyond the quiet town where Shirley was last seen. More than 35 years later, investigators are still trying to identify a mystery man believed to know exactly what happened to Shirley.

If you recognize “Jerry” or have any information about the murder of Shirley McAvoy, please contact Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit - Central at (207) 624-7076 x9. You may also submit a tip using the Maine State Police tip form.

View source material and photos for this episode at: darkdowneast.com/shirleymcavoy

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The Murder of Shirley McAvoy (Maine)

Dark Downeast