The discovery of Damian Thomas’s body in the attic of a Grant Street apartment building in Portland, Maine, has left a community grappling with sorrow and unanswered questions. On April 11, 2025, Portland Police responded to a call at 55 Grant Street, where they found the 49-year-old man deceased in an attic space. The news, somber and unsettling, struck a chord with Thomas’s family and friends, who had been searching for him since he vanished in late January. For months, his absence had weighed heavily on those who knew him, particularly because it was so out of character for a man described as deeply connected to his loved ones and the local homeless community. On Tuesday, April 29, police confirmed the body was Thomas’s, bringing a painful end to a months-long mystery while opening new questions about how he came to be in that attic.
Thomas’s disappearance had sparked concern across Portland. On March 27, the Portland Police Department issued a public appeal via social media, noting that Thomas had last been seen in the city in late January and had not contacted his family, a behavior they described as unusual. His family, worried for his well-being, worked tirelessly alongside friends and volunteers to spread the word. Flyers with Thomas’s image circulated, and a close friend, Shay Dufour, organized search parties, emphasizing Thomas’s prominence in the city’s homeless community. Dufour spoke of Thomas’s warm presence, noting that his silence was alarming to the many advocates and nonprofits who cherished him. The community’s efforts underscored the void Thomas’s absence left, as those who knew him refused to give up hope of finding him alive.
The circumstances surrounding Thomas’s death remain unclear, though police have stated the case does not appear suspicious. Officers were called to the Grant Street building around 3:40 p.m. on April 11, where they discovered the body. Video footage captured by witnesses showed Portland Fire Department personnel using a ladder truck to remove a body bag from the building’s roof, a stark image that circulated locally but was withheld by media outlets out of respect. The Portland Crime Scene Unit was on site, collecting evidence, but authorities have released few details about what they found. The ongoing investigation has left the public with little to go on, fueling quiet speculation about how Thomas ended up in such an isolated space.
Thomas’s life, though marked by challenges, was defined by the connections he forged. As an unhoused individual, he was a familiar figure in Portland, known for his kindness and reliability. His family’s distress during his disappearance highlighted the strength of their bond, and Dufour’s efforts to rally the community reflected the broader impact Thomas had. The attic where he was found, a place of shadows and solitude, seems an incongruous end for someone so tied to others. Yet, without further details from the police, the story of his final days remains incomplete.
The Portland Police Department continues to investigate, urging anyone with information to come forward. For now, the community mourns a man whose absence was felt long before his death was confirmed. Thomas’s story, though tragic, has brought attention to the vulnerability of those living on the margins and the importance of community in times of crisis. As the investigation unfolds, his family and friends hold onto memories of a man who, in life, was never truly alone.