LEWISTON, Maine — Nearly half a century after Dorothy “Dottie” Milliken was murdered, her family remains determined to uncover the truth. A new book set to release next week aims to shed light on the cold case surrounding the brutal killing of the 27-year-old mother, whose life was cut short in 1976.
Milliken was found deceased outside Beal’s Laundromat in Lewiston on November 6, 1976, just days before she was scheduled to return to work after maternity leave. Her eldest daughter, Tonia Ross, believes that someone knows what happened on that tragic night but has yet to come forward. “They’ve been quiet for so long, paralyzed by fear,” Ross said.
The night before Milliken’s body was discovered, she left her home in nearby Sabattus around 11 p.m. Her husband had just gone to bed, and she never returned. By early morning, a newspaper delivery boy stumbled upon her body near the laundromat’s side entrance. An autopsy later confirmed that Milliken died from severe blunt force trauma to the head, and law enforcement has labeled the murder as particularly brutal.
Ross, who was just 7 years old when her mother was killed, has carried the weight of this tragedy throughout her life. “She was beautiful and funny, a perfect mother,” she recalled. Over the years, Ross has often speculated about who could be responsible, suggesting it may have been someone Milliken knew well, possibly even more than one person.
For nearly five decades, Milliken’s family has sought answers while police identified several persons of interest. No arrests have been made, leaving the family in constant turmoil. “I have thoughts about who it might be, but I can’t say anything. It might compromise the investigation,” Ross stated.
The forthcoming book, “The Murder of Dorothy Milliken: Cold Case in Maine,” is authored by Sharon Kitchens, who devoted over a year to interviewing relatives, friends, and law enforcement involved in the case. Kitchens surmised that the resolution of this cold case hinges on a breakthrough from those who have withheld information. “The key to solving this tragedy lies in the hands of the people who know the truth,” she said.
As the 50th anniversary of Milliken’s death approaches, Ross continues to appeal to anyone with information to come forward. “The trauma from that day has never left me,” she said, urging those who know something to understand the lasting impact on her life. “Imagine living in my shoes.”
With renewed hope from the book’s publication, Milliken’s family is eager for new leads that could finally bring closure. Anyone with knowledge about the case is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police.