Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A local pawn shop owner has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a Presque Isle woman who’s been missing for more than a dozen years.
Jaime Sr.
“State Police, working with the Presque Isle Police Department, arrested George Jaime Sr., 75, from Presque Isle, the afternoon of July 12 and charged him with murder in connection with the death of Starlett ‘Star’ Vining. Vining was last seen alive in the fall of 1998 in the Presque Isle area and would have been 38 years old at the time of her death,” said Steve McCausland, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
A MSP website listing of missing persons indicates Vining worked at Smythe’s IGA on North Street in Presque Isle and last appeared there for work in October 1998. The site noted “Vining was described as a dependable employee who just stopped coming back to work, and never returned to pick up her last paycheck.”
Vining’s former husband and her three, now adult, children reportedly last saw her in 1998 as well. Police indicate Vining, who would be 52 now, had a history of relocating but has never been out of her family members’ lives for more than a few years at a time.
Vining
Presque Isle tax records indicate the structure, which includes a pawn shop, wine store and apartments, is owned by A.M. Smith Trust, in care of George J. Jaime. Members of the Maine State Police Evidence Recovery Team had their mobile crime unit truck parked in the alley between Jaime’s building and a State Street thrift store called The Cubby off and on between Monday, July 9, and Thursday, July 12, with officers traveling between the unit and the lower level of the Smith Block. Jaime’s pawn broker license was renewed by City Council in April 2012.
“Jaime Sr. was arrested at the pawn shop he owns in the building, Star City Trading Post,, about 3:45 p.m. The business shares space in the building with several apartments and a store called The Wine Cellar and is located at the intersection of Main and State streets. Police began searching the site on Monday,” at a location Vining was known to frequent, said McCausland.
Detectives continued to search the building into the evening of Jaime’s arrest. Police would not say what was found in the search that led to Jaime’s arrest.
Jaime was transported to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton and had his initial court appearance on Friday, July 13.
Police have determined Jaime and Vining knew each other and that she was seen in the area of Jaime’s property prior to her disappearance.
“In 1998, Vining and Jaime were in a relationship and her body has not been located. The arrest was made after consulting with the Attorney General’s Office. More details about the investigation will be contained in an affidavit at a later date in court,” said McCausland.
At the request of Jaime’s attorney, Alan Harding, of Presque Isle, Superior Court Judge David Soucy, during a video conference Friday, sealed the affidavit and search warrant to prevent details about the case from being released to the public until Jaime’s bail hearing is held Wednesday. Jaime did not enter a plea during his Friday court appearance. Harding filed a motion, which will be addressed in court July 18, to preserve evidence in the case.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call Det. Adam Stoutamyer with the MSP at 532-5400 or 800-924-2261.
