Missing Maine Woman: Search For Anneliese Heinig Complicated By Inconsistent, Contradicting Information

The search for a missing Maine woman may be hindered by changing facts around her disappearance.

The confusion surrounds the disappearance of Anneliese Heinig, 37, who was last seen on the morning of Nov. 26 on Interstate 295 outside Portland, Maine. Authorities had organized a mass search effort of the surrounding area but had to suspend the search Monday due to weather. It was set to resume on Wednesday morning but the snow was expected to cause problems.

Heinig's family has expressed frustration due to conflicting information around the police investigation, which may have cost search efforts valuable time.

“If I were asked what I’d like to see come out of this, is that people understand that in an emergency situation, in a crisis, it is absolutely essential that people be completely confident in the information they’re providing,” Heinig’s father Chris Heinig told the Portland Press Herald.

Heinig was last seen reportedly walking away from her SUV after pulling over on the interstate around 6:30 a.m. It had allegedly broken down on the side of the road near Exit 9, forcing Heinig to walk to the nearest area to get help with her car. A tow truck arrived shortly after to tow the SUV but no one had reportedly seen Heinig since she left the car.

The first contradiction arose with the tow truck driver who originally told Heinig’s family her car was on the southbound side of the road. However, Falmouth police Lt. Jeff Pardue told reporters on Monday the car was found on the northbound side and Heinig had instead been walking south.

“I can tell you I personally spoke with the witness (who saw her) and it was articulated directly to me that Ms. Heinig was walking southbound in the northbound lane,” Pardue said.

By Tuesday, the Heinig family said police informed them the car was confirmed to be heading south, but was found near the Presumpscot River bridge and not Exit 9 as originally thought.

A Facebook post by Heinig’s sister Anne Heinig also raised questions about when the car was towed.

Maine State Police spokesperson Steve McCausland said a state trooper had pulled over to check on the car around 8:30 a.m. but did nothing else at the time. McCausland said state policy “encourages” officers to try and contact a vehicle’s register owner but it is not known if the officer had done so in this case.

Heinig was reported missing by her family on Thanksgiving after she failed to appear for a holiday dinner. Police then located her cellphone shortly after, leading them to the towing company that had towed the car.

“I don’t have the energy or the inclination to be really frustrated,” Chris Heinig said. “I just hope with every call there is some kind of news. Hopefully, good news.”