A tourist who overstayed his visa is facing accusations in the tragic death of 64-year-old Stacy Stratard, co-owner of Birchwood Brewing in Gray, Maine, following a pedestrian vehicle accident.
On August 16th, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office reported that Stacy Stratard was crossing the street in New Gloucester, Maine, when 49-year-old Mukendimbiya struck her with a 2016 Ford Fusion.
Stadard died at the scene. While Mbiya was questioned by authorities, he has not been charged yet, and the investigation is still ongoing. Officers indicated that Mbiya was unharmed during the incident.
Stacy, the co-owner of Birchwood Brewing, was a mother and cherished grandmother, recently celebrating her 64th birthday on August 8th.
She opened the brewery in 2019 with her son Andrew Sanborn and friend Wesley Huey, turning it into a beloved community spot that radiated her warmth and spirit.
Stacy had a unique talent for making everyone feel welcome. With her bright smile and open arms, she greeted both friends and strangers as if they were family. She took joy in simple pleasures like gardening and spending time outdoors with her dog, Blanche. Her love for nurturing reflected her upbringing, and her family was always her pride and joy, which she cherished fiercely and unconditionally.
Stacey’s memory carries on through her children: Rachel, Michelle (Jason), Kate (Steve), Jody, Mylan (Dan), and Andrew, as well as her grandchildren: Dylan, Jacob, Jason, Levy, Lowen, Evelyn, Ellie, Hannah, and Bennett. She is also survived by her mother, Jean Wilber Pulsifer, her brother Stephen (Brenda), her sister Beth, and a host of family, the Birchwood team, and many dear friends.
On Thursday, officials from Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) disclosed that Mbiya first entered the U.S. on December 23, 2018, on a B-2 tourist visa.
On August 18th, ICE agents took Mbiya into custody due to the visa overstay.
The Department of Homeland Security has estimated that nearly half of the 11 to 22 million unauthorized residents in the country are visa holders who have not been deported by federal immigration authorities.
