Paul Colucci was 60 years old when he was last known to be in Baxter State Park in Maine on September 8, 2021. Public NamUs records identify him as a White male, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and between 150 and 160 pounds, with gray or partially gray hair and blue eyes. His last known location was in the Baxter State Park area of Piscataquis County, with the case assigned to Maine State Police Troop F.
The available case information describes a man who entered the park for what appeared to be a planned backcountry stay: he made a two-night reservation for Russell Pond Campground at the Togue Pond gate at approximately 9:45 that morning, then drove to Roaring Brook Campground, where he parked his vehicle and spoke with a campground ranger before heading toward the trail to Russell Pond between about 10:30 and 11:00 a.m.
The trail area where Paul was believed to be traveling was not a casual roadside stop, but a remote backcountry route. News reports from September 2021 stated that he was last seen at about 11:30 a.m. on Russell Pond Trail, which runs north from Roaring Brook Campground on the east side of Katahdin to Russell Pond Campground. Baxter State Park officials described that stretch as one of the most remote sections of the park and noted that it is not accessible by road, a detail that made the search especially difficult and underscored the isolation of the area where Paul disappeared. At the time he was last described publicly, Paul was reported to be wearing tan shorts, a red long-sleeve shirt, a dark-colored small pull-on hat, a tan belt, and greenish-gray hiking sneakers; he also had a backpack and was carrying a. 22 rifle.
Paul’s light green 2015 Toyota Prius was later associated with the search because it remained in the Roaring Brook parking lot. Public case summaries state that the car had been backed into its parking space, left unlocked, and had the key fob inside. Those details suggested that Paul had not simply driven away from the area, and they placed the focus of the investigation and search efforts on the trail system between Roaring Brook and Russell Pond. In the days and weeks after he was reported missing, park personnel and searchers continued looking through an area known for rugged terrain and limited road access, while public notices asked anyone with information about Paul’s whereabouts to contact Maine State Police at 207-532-5400.
By early October 2021, the search for Paul had continued without the discovery of clues that publicly explained what happened to him. The Piscataquis Observer, citing information from Baxter State Park and park director Eben Sypitkowski, reported that more than 35 people, including park rangers, game wardens, forest rangers, and volunteers, searched for Paul on October 3, 2021, but found no clues about his whereabouts. The same report stated that the search was ongoing at that time, and no additional information was immediately available. The public record therefore presents a deeply troubling and unresolved disappearance: Paul Colucci entered Baxter State Park on September 8, 2021, prepared for a two-night stay at Russell Pond, parked at Roaring Brook, spoke with a ranger, and set out on a remote trail; his vehicle remained behind, searches followed, and the known trail of evidence ended in one of Maine’s most isolated wilderness areas.Last Seen: Sep 8, 2021
