BAR HARBOR (NEWS CENTER Maine) — New details surrounding the gruesome death of a 19-year-old woman from Bar Harbor are coming to light.
Mikaela Conley died from blunt force trauma to the head and strangulation, according to the affidavit released Friday, June 15.
► 'Difficult to even imagine': Bar Harbor community still in the dark, rallies around victim's family
The man accused of her murder, 21-year-old, Jalique Keene, was seen on a security camera dragging Conley's body across a school playground near the wooded area where she was later found, according to newly released documents.
Keene and Conley attended High School together at Mount Desert Island High School.
Conley went missing on May 31 and her body was discovered covered with vegetation two days later by a Maine State Police in a wooded area near the Connors-Emerson school.
According to the newly released affidavit, Conley left her family's Bar Harbor home on May 31 and went to Logan International Airport where she picked up Jalique Keene.
Police interviewed Keene on June 2, before Conley’s body was discovered. In that interview, he admitted to being picked up by Conley at Logan Airport and driving back to Bar Harbor with her.
He told detectives that he and Conley then went to the playground at the Connors-Emersons school which is near Mikaela's home, where the pair made-out and had sex around 2:00 a.m. for the first time. Keene told police that Conley got upset and the two had a physical altercation. Keene showed detectives scratches on his back that he claimed Conley inflicted on him. Keene told police he left the playground around 3:30 a.m. and never saw Conley again.
State of Maine vs. Jalique Keene: Affidavit by NEWSCENTER26 on Scribd
Detective Thomas Pickering reviewed video surveillance footage from the elementary school that contradicted Keene's statements. Pickering said in the affidavit, that a man resembling Keene picked Conley up over his shoulder and walked off with her while her feet were kicking around 3:36 a.m. Later footage showed Keene dragging Conley’s lifeless body by her wrists around 7:05 a.m.
The autopsy showed multiple abrasions and contusions to Conley's torso and extremities that were caused by dragging and injury.
Conley's death has shocked the community in the tourist town of Bar Harbor as many are remembering her as the girl who was so "full of life."
Conely's family and friends held a celebration of her life at her family's restaurant and inn, 2 Cats in Bar Harbor on Saturday, June 9.