By Dan Aceto

Staff Writer

Cynthia Caron has helped host other benefit dinners for missing people, but has never seen a response quite like the one that a missing Scarborough woman received Saturday.

“So many family members helped out as well as local businesses in the community,” Caron said. “It was amazing we were able to pull this off in six weeks.”

The benefit spaghetti dinner, held Saturday, raised money for a reward leading to information about Megan Waterman, 22, who went missing June 6 in Hauppage, Long Island. Police say she had gone to New York with her boyfriend, Akeem Cruz, and had advertised as an escort on Craigslist.

Cruz, 21, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is currently being held at Cumberland County Jail on charges of dealing crack cocaine and violating conditions of release. Although he was the last person to be seen with Waterman, Scarborough Police say he has been uncooperative in speaking with them on the case. 

Detective Don Blatchford said the investigation has been continuing on a daily basis, and that police in Long Island and Scarborough are doing all they can to find Waterman.

Caron, who founded LostNMissing, a nonprofit group that helps families find missing loved ones, said about 160 people attended the dinner. The family raised nearly $2,500 through the sale of tickets, raffle prizes and gift certificates.

Caron has represented more than 250 families since she started the organization six years ago. Holding a benefit, whether it be a dinner, concert or walk, is a necessary component in raising awareness of a missing person, she said.
And the family couldn’t be more thankful. 

“It was a great event,” said Amanda Gove of Portland, Waterman’s sister. “We’re just hoping to raise enough money to bring her home. We love and miss her a lot and want her to come home.”

Another sister, Allie Pertel of Portland, said she was very grateful to everyone who attended and said it was nice to see people from the community show up who may not have even known Waterman. 

One of those people was Mary Kopengafinch of Portland, who has followed Waterman’s case ever since she heard of her disappearance. Kopengafinch, whose daughter Margaret went missing in Boston in 2003 and has yet to be found, said she felt connected to the case. 

“It went right to my heart,” Kopengafinch said.
Kopengafinch said benefits such as the dinner held for Waterman mean a lot to families and it is important to never give up hope in a missing person case.
“It could be years, but they could still be alive,” Kopengafinch said.
In a speech before the dinner Waterman’s mother, Lorraine Ela, said she hopes for her daughter’s safe return, and that the family will continue to look after Waterman’s 4-year old daughter, Liliana.

“Liliana was always Megan’s world and always will be,” Ela said.

Liliana, joined on stage by her aunts, uncle and grandmother, was surprised to see a large pink present given to her at the start of the dinner by her family. When she opened the gift, she was even more elated to see it contained a new doll.

Nicole Haycock of Raymond, who is close friends with Waterman, said everyone who knew her has felt loss in some way.
“I just miss having her around. We used to tell each other everything,” Haycock said. 

She said Waterman’s birthday is in January and the family hopes to hold another fundraiser around that time.

“It just seems so surreal. It’s one of those things that you see on TV and never think will happen to you, but when it does, time just stands still,” Haycock said.

Donations are still being accepted for the reward  for information leading to the safe return of Waterman.

Donations can be sent to the Megan Waterman Trust Fund at Cumberland County Federal Credit Union, 1345 Washington Ave., Portland, Maine 04103, and online at www.meganwaterman.com under the donations tab.