Portland police have arrested a man in connection with the 2017 killing of Sunao “Tom” Yamada.
Yamada was found dead near Temple and Federal streets on September 10, 2017.
Yamada was homeless at the time of his death.
The police department announced Thursday that 42-year-old Stephen Versluis Jr. was taken into custody early Wednesday for the killing of Yamada.
Versluis is in the Cumberland County jail on a murder charge and will likely appear in court Friday.
Versluis was living in the Portland and Biddeford areas at the time.
In a statement, Portland Police Chief Mark Dubois said:
“This arrest represents a significant step toward justice for Tom and his loved ones. For nine years, our detectives remained steadfast in their commitment to this case, pursuing leads, re-examining evidence, and never losing sight of the importance of finding answers.”
Yamada, who was known by friends and family as “Tom”, was a well-known figure in the community known for his kind and gentle demeanor.
Portland Police were aided in the investigation by the FBI Boston Division Cold Case Team, Seacoast Crime Stoppers, the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory and the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
Police say the investigation remains open and urge anyone with additional information to contact them.
