PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police announced Tuesday the indictment of two men in connection with the murder of 37-year-old Frank Williams in 2008.
Williams was beaten and stabbed to death on the Fox Street soccer fields in Portland on Aug. 16, 2008. After years of actively working to solve his killing, on Dec. 8, 2023, a grand jury gave their verdict, charging Shane Hall and Khang Tran with murder. Both men are currently incarcerated and serving sentences for unrelated crimes, according to a press release from the Portland Police Department.
Williams' murder was one of several unsolved cases the Portland Police Department is still investigating. Police said 12 active cases still remain. According to the release, these are their descriptions:
Active unsolved Portland homicides
Mary Ann Deragon - Sept. 12, 1985
"Mary Ann was 32 years old when her body was discovered at the Riverton School in the woodline near Farnham Street. Her death is the oldest unsolved homicide being investigated."
Investigators: Det. Napijalo 207-874-8906 / Det. Shinay 207-874-8595
Scott Sampson - Nov. 13, 1990
"On November 13, 1990, at 1:53 a.m., Portland Police Officers responded to 64 Pine Street for an unconscious male on the sidewalk in front of Pine Street Variety. When officers arrived, they found Scott Sampson deceased. The ensuing investigation determined Sampson's death to be a homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time."
Investigator: Det. Hagerty 207-874-8602
Henry Champagne - Feb. 15, 1991
"On February 15, 1991, Portland Police responded to 633 Congress Street, Apartment 10, to check on the well-being of 62-year-old Henry Champagne. Officers discovered Champagne deceased and he was last seen alive on February 13, 1991. His cause of death has not been released."
Investigators: Det. Napijalo 207-874-8906 / Det. Shinay 207-874-8595
Sarina Towle - March 25, 1994
"On the morning of March 25, 1994, 2-year-old Sarina 'Pretty' Towle was found murdered in her bedroom on Danforth Street. She lived there with her mother, two brothers, and her mother’s boyfriend. The cause of death is not being released."
Investigators: Det. J. Brown 207-874-8529 / Det. Rider 207-874-8524
Maude Holden - Oct. 27, 1994
"On October 27, 1994, 73-year-old Maude Holden died due to complications resulting from a structure fire in the apartment building where she lived at 527-529 Washington Avenue. The structure consisted of six apartments on three floors. The fire was ruled arson. Holden was trapped in the building by the fire, preventing her escape."
Investigator: Det. Hagerty 207-874-8602
Robert Joyal - April 4, 1998
"On April 4, 1998, at 1:00 a.m., Robert Joyal was with friends at the Denny’s restaurant at 1091 Congress Street. During an altercation involving a large group of individuals, Joyal was stabbed and died as a result of the sustained wounds."
Investigator: Det. Tully 207-874-8550
James Angelo - Sept. 7, 2008
"On September 7, 2008, Portland Police Officers responded to the Mercy Hospital parking lot on Winter Street at approximately 4:00 a.m. The victim was 27-year-old James Angelo, a security guard at Mercy Hospital, who had been conducting a check of the doctors’ parking lot when he was shot and killed."
Investigators: Det. Hagerty 207-874-8602 / Det. Townsend 207-874-8606
Than Yim - Dec. 20, 2009
"In the early morning hours of December 20, 2009, 33-year-old Than Yim died from wounds he had received during an altercation involving a large group of individuals in the parking lot of Thanh Thanh Bida Club at 250 Read Street. The cause of death is not being released."
Investigators: Det. Googins 207-874-8151 / Det. Brown 207-874-8529
Darien Richardson - Jan. 8, 2010 / Feb. xx 2010
"In the early morning hours of January 8, 2010, while 25-year-old Darien Richardson and her boyfriend, Corey Girard were sleeping, they were shot by intruders in their bedroom at 25 Rackleff Street. Both Richardson and Girard were treated at the hospital and were expected to recover; however, Richardson later died from sustained injuries."
Investigators: Det. Tully 207-874-8550 / Det. Druan 207-874-8592
Taquan Samuels - July 25, 2010
"In the early morning hours of July 25, 2010, 22-year-old Taquan Samuels was shot and killed as he was leaving a party at 55 Allen Avenue. Samuels, a resident of Brooklyn, NY, had recently moved to the 55 Allen Avenue Apartments."
Investigators: Det. Townsend 207-874-8606 / Det. Curlee 207-874-8907
Bryan Garcia - Feb. 27, 2017
"On February 27, 2017, Scarborough resident Bryan 'Kage' Garcia was found deceased in his car on Chadwick Street in Portland’s West End."
Investigator: Det. Townsend 207-874-8606
Sunao Yamada - Sept. 10, 2017
"On September 10, 2017, 54-year-old Sunao 'Thomas' Yamada was found deceased near Temple Street. The cause of death has not been released."
Investigator: Det. Letarte 207-874-8522
