The family of the Maine woman whose remains were found last week in Florida is asking for the public’s help in finding the person who may have been responsible for her death.

The remains of Judith “Judi” Therianos, 52, of Alfred, who was reported missing on March 19, were identified by a medical examiner Saturday. The cause and time of her death are not yet known.

Therianos’ family issued a statement confirming that the body found Thursday night in New Port Richey, Florida, was that of Therianos. The family said the investigation into her death has been handed over to the Major Crimes Unit of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Therianos’ sister, Jennifer Scammon of Saco, said the family wants answers. The family suspects there may have been foul play.

“I’d like to put out a plea for help. For anyone with information about Judi during that time frame to please call police,” Scammon said Sunday evening, referring to March 11, when Therianos was seen by a friend in Florida, through Thursday of last week.

“We are still waiting for answers,” Scammon said. “Her family would like closure.”

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said Therianos’ body was discovered by a woman searching for beverage cans in a wooded area in New Port Richey.

Eddie Daniels, spokesman for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, said Sunday morning there was no new information available.

The statement issued by Therianos’ family said that “Judi was an amazing woman with a heart of gold. She loved assisting those that needed a helping hand. She and we, her loving family, now need your help in finding out what happened to our mother, sister, daughter and friend. If you have any information that may assist in the investigation, please called Detective Gasparino at 727-847-5878.”

A Facebook page called “Help Find Judi Therianos” was set up to locate Therianos. The page said she was seen March 11 by a friend in Florida. At the time, she was in the company of a man called “Charlie.” He is described as slim, with long white hair and a long white beard, and between 65 and 75 years old. He was driving a white GMC Terrain SUV. Therianos, who had a black eye at the time, told her friend that Charlie had a boat.

Therianos was last seen March 14 in New Port Richey. Friends said she left Maine with a friend in February to visit a friend with cancer in the Tampa Bay area and eventually arrived in New Port Richey to visit another friend.

Scammon contacted Maine State Police on March 19 to report her sister missing. State police then notified police in Florida.

Glenda Cook of Sanford, a longtime friend of Therianos, said she last spoke to her by phone on March 11.

Therianos grew up in Maine and graduated from Massabesic High School in Waterboro in 1981.

“We would like to thank everyone that helped in the search for Judi,” the family said in its statement. “From those that walked the streets passing out fliers to the DEEMI (Down East Emergency Medicine Institute of Bangor) volunteer search team, to the media for assisting us in getting the story out. The outpouring of love and support from friends, neighbors, and even those that never knew Judi has been overwhelming.”

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