In the early morning hours of February 26, 2024, a discovery was made in the parking lot of Waterville Junior High School that would cast a somber mood over the community. A school employee arriving for work noticed a figure slumped over the steering wheel of a school bus and alerted the authorities. Responding officers found a deceased male inside the bus. The man was later identified as 24-year-old Anthony "River" Engelhardt, a White male from Naples, Maine.
The discovery prompted the closure of all Waterville public schools for the day as police secured the scene and began their investigation.
An autopsy conducted by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined that Engelhardt's death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Based on this finding, authorities have stated that there was no threat to the public, and it was considered an isolated incident. Consequently, there have been no arrests made, and there are no suspects in connection with his death. Investigators found that Engelhardt had no discernible connection to the Waterville School Department, and his reasons for being in the city remained unclear. His own vehicle had been found abandoned on Interstate 95 six days prior to the discovery of his body and had been towed.
Friends and acquaintances of Engelhardt, who was also known as River, remember him as a kind and generous person. They shared that he had been grappling with significant mental health challenges, including schizophrenia, which were exacerbated by the death of his mother in 2020. Despite his internal struggles, he was known to put the needs of others before his own. He had recently purchased a car and had expressed excitement about taking a road trip. His passing has left those who knew him with a profound sense of loss.
