Cumberland County Sheriff Issues Statement Following Standish Incident

December 18, 2025 — by Scanner Alerts Media

STANDISH, Maine — Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin J. Joyce released a statement to the community Thursday addressing a tragic incident in Standish that resulted in the death of a five-year-old child earlier this week.

In the statement dated December 18, 2025, Sheriff Joyce confirmed the incident resulted in the death of Simon Gonzalez, a five-year-old kindergarten student at Edna Libby School. The sheriff expressed sorrow and condolences to Simon’s family, friends, and classmates, as well as appreciation for the first responders who handled the call and the broader community impacted by the event.

Sheriff Joyce stated that the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is committed to conducting an objective, thorough, and fact-driven investigation. He acknowledged the shock experienced by the community and emphasized that the investigative process will take time due to the complexity of the case.

According to the statement, investigators are awaiting the results of medical and mechanical examinations of evidence. The sheriff’s office is working with local, state, and federal partners on accident reconstruction, interviewing witnesses, reviewing video, and processing forensic evidence collected at the scene.

Sheriff Joyce asked for patience as the investigation continues and requested the public refrain from speculation and sharing misinformation. He noted that information will be released to the community as it becomes available and as long as it does not jeopardize the investigation.

The sheriff also asked that rhetoric regarding the incident on social media stop, stating it serves no purpose for those involved. He encouraged the community to keep Simon’s family in their thoughts and prayers.

Credit: Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office