Tragic Discovery for Maine Family
Human remains discovered late last month in Blaine, Maine, have been formally identified as those of Tomis Hoyt, a 36-year-old mother of two who had been missing since July. Maine State Police confirmed the identification on Wednesday, bringing a devastating conclusion to a search that began when Hoyt was last seen by her family on 13 July.
The Last Sighting and Family's Desperate Search
Hoyt was last spotted barefoot on Robinson Road in Mars Hill, according to the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office. Surveillance footage captured the missing woman walking down the road wearing an orange-pink coloured tank top and ripped jeans, with no shoes. Authorities believed she had been without any money.
Around a week after her disappearance, her family revealed that Hoyt had been sober for nearly a decade but had been struggling with her mental health and addiction. They made desperate public pleas for anyone who might be housing her to ensure her safe return home.
A Sister's Anguish and Accusations
Hoyt's sister, Rici Hoyt, expressed profound grief and anger in a series of Facebook posts, alleging that the system failed her sister. She claimed to have repeatedly contacted pretrial services, the sheriff’s office, and Caribou PD, warning them that Tomis needed medical help and protection.
"I told them over and over that if something happened to her, it would be on them," Rici wrote. "They promised me she would be safe... Then they stopped returning my calls." She believes that if law enforcement had acted when she had eyes on her sister, wandering barefoot and begging for help, the outcome might have been different.
In her final post on 13 July, Tomis Hoyt herself had shared a petition advocating for the reform of Maine's State Child Protective Services, highlighting concerns over 'unjust child removals and violations of parental rights.'
A Family's Heartbreak and Quest for Answers
Rici Hoyt later confirmed the tragic news, writing, "confirmed — the body found in Blaine is my sister, Tomis." She described her heart as "shattered" and the pain as having "no words big enough."
While the cause of Tomis Hoyt's death remains undetermined pending an ongoing investigation, her family are now left waiting for answers as they prepare for her funeral. "Tomi will never be forgotten," Rici vowed. "Her spirit, her laugh, her heart, even her stubbornness — they’ll live on in every one of us who loved her."
