The murder of a Passamaquoddy woman at Sipayik on Thursday, April 21, has left the community feeling devastated and in mourning. Kimberly Neptune, 43, was found deceased in her home at 27 Thunder Road that evening, and a week later, on Friday, April 29, Donnell Dana Jr., 38, and Kailie Brackett, 38, both of Sipayik, were arrested for her murder.
      The following week, on the evening of Thursday, May 5, a somber remembrance walk from the Pleasant Point Health Center to Split Rock was held for Neptune, with over 100 people from Sipayik and surrounding communities joining together to show support for her family. Many people wore red in remembrance of all the missing and murdered Indigenous women across the nation, as May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. According to the U.S. Justice Department, Native American women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average, and the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women reports that four out of five Indigenous females are affected by violence.
      At the gathering at Split Rock, Jason Brown of the Penobscot Nation and Dwayne Tomah drummed and sang "Qanute" and a Passamaquoddy honor song in remembrance of Neptune. "We will never forget the women who are missing," Tomah said. "We are still looking for them to bring them home. And all the young women who were murdered -- take time to think about them and pray for them."
      Neptune's mother, Gloria Lewey-Cleaves, spoke with quiet dignity, stating in part, "Losing a loved one is devastating, but losing a child to murder is traumatic and heartbreaking. Our lives will never be the same, and our grief will never stop."
      She added, "A beautiful murdered Indigenous woman, who touched so many lives with her humble and gentle soul, was ripped from our hearts. As we struggle to find out why, this tragedy has shattered us." She then shared a quote with those who came to remember her daughter: "Your tears are our tears, and our tears are your tears." She observed that "her kindness, generosity and her love for all will forever hold special place in our hearts." Noting that there were seven eagles flying above her house earlier that day, she said she believed her daughter had given her the strength to write down her thoughts for the gathering.
      A traditional dance was then performed for Neptune, and later family and friends joined in a round dance, encircling a small tree that was planted at Split Rock in her memory.

Joint effort leads to arrests Neptune had been found deceased in her apartment the evening of Thursday, April 21, after a relative asked the Pleasant Point Police Department shortly after 8 p.m. to check on her well-being. Because the circumstances were suspicious, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North began investigating the death with the assistance of the Pleasant Point department. A neighbor of Neptune's reported having a surveillance camera and located on the video a person walking by the apartment building. Police then sought the public's help in identifying the person in the photos.
      On April 24, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that her death was a homicide, and that weekend the Pleasant Point police began offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
      In a message to the community, Chief Elizabeth "Maggie" Dana had noted support being offered to help with the grief and healing process. She stated, "We are deeply aware that the tragic events will have profound impacts in the months and years to come; and we want you to know that together we will get through this, and we will be here every step of the journey."
      On Monday, April 25, representatives from Passamaquoddy tribal leadership and Maine law enforcement met to discuss the investigation. Chief Dana said of the meeting, "This tragedy has hit our community so hard. There really aren't words for the loss felt by Kim's family, all who loved her and our whole community. That's why we were so thankful to meet and be on the same page with all departments investigating this terrible crime, who have all affirmed their determination to bring justice to the suspect and for Kim's family."
      Among those at the meeting were Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck; Colonel John Cote, chief of the Maine State Police; Lisa Marchese, an assistant attorney general who heads the Office of the Attorney General's Criminal Division; and Christopher Taub, also of the Office of the Attorney General. The group was also joined by Passamaquoddy tribal attorney Corey Hinton. Sauschuck expressed his appreciation to the Passamaquoddy leaders for their strong partnership in the homicide investigation, stating, "This compassionate group of leaders is committed to bringing a suspect to justice and providing closure to her family and her community."
      Then on Friday, April 29, at 4:45 p.m. state police and the Pleasant Point police arrested Brackett and Dana during a traffic stop on Route 190. Both were charged with one count each of murder and are being held at the Washington County Jail.