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| Bernard Ross Jr. |
A Maine State Police spokesman tells PEOPLE Carol and Bernard Ross, Ross's parents, received the unsigned letter a few months ago. They subsequently turned it over to authorities, who have been running various tests on it.
The author of the letter claimed to know more about the case than even investigators, police said.
"If someone does have information on this case, we want to know what that is," Lt. Troy Gardner, who heads the state police's major crimes division, tells PEOPLE.
"Obviously, the question for us is, 'Does this unknown author actually have relevant information about what happened to Mr. Ross or not?'" Gardner says. "I'd hate to think this letter was written as part of a hoax. But there's no way to tell."
Gardner says the mysterious letter references a recent news report on missing persons that mentioned Ross. The letter, the lieutenant says, recommends another story be written about the case.
"It is certainly a possibility someone is being horrible, but I'd hate to think that that's the case," Gardner says. "We are taking care of the analysis of the letter and we have met with the Ross family. They have been through so many emotions since Bernard was last seen, and so right now, they are feeling frustrated and uncertain."
Calls to telephone numbers listed for Ross's various relatives went unreturned Wednesday.
Gardner says Ross's family hosted a memorial services several years ago "as a way to provide some closure. But obviously, they aren't sure what to make of this letter."