WINSLOW -- Police are enlisting help from the public in solving the mystery of why a woman became trapped inside a walk-in freezer for up to four hours May 24 at Smiley's Old Fashioned Ice Cream.

"We have done an extensive investigation," police Chief Richard Grindall said Friday. "We have no absolute conclusion."

Grindall on Friday for the first time released the name of the victim -- Heather Morin, 21, of Oakland.

"She manages the operation, and we can say that the door had a malfunctioning emergency exit," he said. "There is an emergency escape lever on the door and it's an old door and it was not functioning, but it has been remodeled since."

He asked that anyone knowing or having any information about the incident call Detective Gina Henderson between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday at 872-5215.

"Right now, we've gone as far as we can go and we can't come up with any conclusion and we're looking for additional information," Grindall said.

Morin apparently has an unlisted phone number. Grindall said she has a cell phone, but he could not give out the number. He said she is fine and back at work.

At the Halifax Street ice cream stand Friday, a woman working the counter said Morin was not there and she (the employee) said she was told to refer any questions about the incident to Smiley's owner, Jeff Shain. A call to Shain's cell phone was not returned Friday.

It is unknown how Morin managed to survive the cold temperature inside the freezer, said to be 10 below zero.

"I don't know what she did for survival techniques," Grindall said. "She had some thoughts that she might not be found."

He said employees working the Saturday shift knew Morin was on the premises but they did not know where she was. They ultimately called police, and Paul Lussier, a part-time officer, arrived in about five seconds, as he was very near the building, Grindall said.

"He had to hit the brakes to get in the parking lot," he said.

Lussier found Morin in the freezer, Grindall said.

"Officer Lussier actually opened the door and she literally fell out into his arms," he said.

Morin was taken to a local hospital and was treated and later released, he said.

Lussier, a former code enforcement officer in Oakland and Waterville, immediately called Shain to report the problem with the freezer and the door was fixed the next day, according to Grindall.

He said Officer Nate Walker also responded to the scene that night.

Initial reports were that Morin went into the freezer a little after 4:30 p.m. and was found around 8:30 p.m. Grindall said the freezer was used for storage of ice cream.

"As far as we know through the investigation, there's the possibility she was in there as long as four hours," he said Friday.

Police will follow up on any information received from the public, according to Grindall. Asked if police think the incident is suspicious, he replied:

"We don't know how or why it happened. We have exhausted what we have for possibilities right now, so if anybody might know anything else, we certainly would love to hear from them."

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com