The tragic events that unfolded in Lewiston, Maine last month have left the community in shock and mourning. The gunman, identified as 40-year-old Robert Card, took the lives of 18 innocent people and injured 13 others in a devastating shooting rampage at a local bowling alley and restaurant.

It has now been revealed that Card had likely been dead for 8 to 12 hours before his body was discovered at the Maine Recycling Corporation in nearby Lisbon Falls. The grim discovery was made on the evening of October 27th, with authorities confirming that Card had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The whereabouts of Card had been a mystery since the shooting occurred on October 25th. Three hours after the initial attack, a vehicle associated with the gunman, a Subaru, was found near a boat ramp along the Androscoggin River that ran behind the recycling center. This discovery prompted a massive manhunt and residents in the region were urged to shelter in place.

Despite extensive searches of the recycling center, Card's body was not located until a week later. The property had been searched twice the previous day, but authorities had not focused on the overflow parking lot where the trailer containing Card's body was found. The Lisbon Police Department, which has jurisdiction over the area, and the Maine Department of Public Safety have not yet commented on the matter.

Maine Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Mark Flomenbaum, confirmed that Card had likely died 8 to 12 hours before his body was discovered. The postmortem examination, based on rigor mortis and other physical signs, determined that his cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death was ruled as suicide. The final report will not be released without the permission of Card's next of kin, and it may take several months before it becomes available.

The deeply tragic incident has prompted a visit from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, who traveled to Lewiston to pay their respects to the victims and call for stricter gun control measures. Speaking at a memorial service, President Biden emphasized the importance of protecting the freedom to go about daily life without the fear of gun violence.

The impact of this senseless act of violence will be felt for a long time to come as the community of Lewiston mourns the loss of their loved ones. The investigation into the shooting continues, and authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to this tragic event.