Maine Game Wardens map out an area where a Connecticut man crashed his snowmobile Saturday night. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife photo

RANGELEY — The body of a Connecticut man killed in a snowmobile crash on Rangeley Lake over the weekend was recovered Wednesday by the Maine Warden Service.

Officials said they recovered the body of Stephen J. Rogers, 43, of Milford, about 142 feet into the woods from the shore in Russell Cove. It was believed he was killed in a crash Saturday night.

Rogers was using a loaner snowmobile while his snowmobile was being repaired at Oquossoc Marine, according to an Maine Warden Service news release. When Rogers failed to return to pick up his repaired snowmobile Tuesday, he was reported missing by the owner of Oquossoc Marine and wardens began an investigation.

Investigators believed Rogers went out for a snowmobile ride sometime after 10:40 p.m. Saturday. Cellphone data obtained in the investigation led game wardens to begin a search in the area of downtown Rangeley.

On Tuesday, wardens received information from a property owner in Rangeley indicating they found broken snowmobile parts along the shore that matched the description of the snowmobile operated by Rogers, according to the release.

U.S. Border Patrol flew over the area with a helicopter and located the crashed snowmobile. Wardens later recovered the body of Rogers about 142 feet into the woods from the shore in Russell Cove.

Further investigation of the crash site indicated Rogers was travelling at a high speed on the lake and struck several trees along the shore, according to the release. Excessive speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors in the crash, the release said.

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