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By NOEL K. GALLAGHER
MaineToday Media, Inc.

MaineToday Media, Inc.

A 30-year-old nursing student from Alfred who was last seen eight days ago was responsible and conscientious, making her sudden disappearance particularly alarming, Maine State Police said Wednesday.

Kelly Gorham, who lived by herself in an apartment over a garage on Water Street, was last seen by her landlord and another neighbor at about 11 p.m. on Aug. 8, said State Police Lt. Brian McDonough. When she didn't show up for her job as an intern at Maine Medical Center in Portland at 1 p.m. the next day, a co-worker called State Police.

Gorham, a student at University of Southern Maine, has one semester left until she becomes a registered nurse.

"For her to cease contact with everybody is completely out of character; there doesn't seem to be any reason for her to do that," McDonough said. "This is completely inconsistent with her usual behavior."

McDonough said police found her car at her home, but would not disclose whether other personal effects, such as her wallet or cell phone, were also there.

He described Gorham as being in regular contact with her family in Waterboro, having four dogs and two cats and being an avid hiker and outdoorswoman. She has lived at the Alfred apartment for two years.

Gorham's mother, who is caring for the pets, said Wednesday she preferred not to discuss her daughter's disappearance.

Gorham's landlords, John and Nancy Durfee, said they are very close to Gorham, who ate dinner with them about half the time and has been their tenant for the last seven years.

Before moving to Alfred, she rented a mobile home in Waterboro from them for five years, he said.

"She is a very nice person, a giggly happy person ... but very street smart," said John Durfee, who ate dinner with her and another tenant last Tuesday night. "She would have never gone off without telling us."

He said Gorham walked her dogs in the woods that backed up to their property.

McDonough said police did several ground searches near her apartment with police dogs last week and were meeting Wednesday with representatives from the state Inland Fisheries and Wildlife department to determine whether -- and where -- to conduct further searches. It is unknown what she had planned to do last Wednesday morning before going to work.

"Everybody is extremely concerned for her well-being," McDonough said. "It is alarming and needs to be taken seriously and that's what we're trying to do."

As part of their investigation, State Police are researching her credit card, Internet and cell phone records.

"We want to see if any of that stuff has been used and see if she's been communicating with anyone," he said.

Gorham is 5-foot 2-inches tall, 140 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Michael Zabarsky at 657-3030.

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