Missing Waterville Mom Last Seen Putting Kids on School Bus

UPDATE: A body has been found in the basement of Melissa Sousa's home, according to police.

ORIGINAL STORY: Waterville Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a young Waterville mother who was last seen Tuesday morning.

Melissa Sousa, 29, of 32 Gold Street was last seen about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday putting her two children on a school bus by her house, according to police.  Friends reported her missing last night and Waterville Police asked State Police to assist them in the investigation later in the evening.

Melissa is 5 feet tall, weighs 125 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. She lives at the duplex home with Nicholas Lovejoy, 28, and they are the parents of 8-year-old twin girls.

 Lovejoy was arrested by Waterville Police around midnight after his SUV was stopped on Summer St. Waterville Police charged him with having a loaded rifle in the car and endangering the welfare of a child. Police said he had left his children alone at the home.

Lovejoy was interviewed at the Waterville Police Department this morning and has cooperated with investigators. He was later taken to the Kennebec County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $2,000 bail.

Anyone who has seen Sousa or has information on her whereabouts is asked to call Waterville Police at 680-4700 extension 4513.