On the evening of August 5, 2026, the vibrant life of Julian ‘Juju’ Nadeau was tragically cut short. The 21-year-old, known for her infectious energy and love for the furry community, was walking with friends along the Back Cove Trail in Portland, Maine when an altercation with a man on a bicycle turned fatal. The man, later identified as Glen Rodney allegedly stabbed Nadeau, leading to her untimely death at Maine Medical Center.
Nadeau’s passing sent shockwaves through her community, particularly among her friends and loved ones who remembered her as an angelic presence. Her partner, Kasper DeWitt described her as a person who lit up every room she entered. ‘She was “divine,”’ DeWitt shared, highlighting Nadeau’s ability to make things better for everyone around her.
The Furry Community Mourns a Beloved Member
Nadeau was deeply involved in the furry community, a subculture of people who appreciate anthropomorphic animal characters. She was known for her multiple fursonas including a pink-and-green-striped hyena named Chlugsy which she acquired at Furpocalypse 2026 in Stamford, Connecticut. Her love for fursuits and conventions was evident in her frequent attendance at events like Anthrocon in Pittsburgh where she would spend hours at the waterfront of the Allegheny River with her friends.
Her friend Liz McGehee recalled their shared love for these conventions. ‘We would literally spend thousands of dollars to go to Anthrocon and we would barely even be in the convention itself because she just wanted to be at the waterfront all day,’ DeWitt shared. Nadeau’s presence at these events was magnetic, leaving a lasting impression on everyone she met.
A Life Full of Adventures and Connections
Beyond her involvement in the furry community, Nadeau was known for her adventurous spirit and her ability to form deep connections with people. She enjoyed exploring new places, from the graffiti under Tukey’s Bridge to swimming with friends from Peaks Island to Catnip Island. Her job at a McDonald’s in Saco also provided her with a platform to spread her warmth and kindness.
Nadeau’s identity as a fennec fox therian was an integral part of who she was. This identity translated into her playful and effervescent personality, often seen in her interactions with friends and loved ones. DeWitt recalled how Nadeau would bark, meow, and even say her own name, ‘Juju,’ as a playful wake-up call, comparing it to a Pokemon.
Honoring a Legacy of Love and Joy
In the wake of Nadeau’s tragic death, her loved ones are finding ways to honor her memory. A GoFundMe page was set up to cover expenses left in the aftermath, with her partner’s parents, Joe-la and Matt DeWitt sharing heartfelt words about her impact. ‘It’s cliche to say someone lit up a room, but if you knew her — that’s exactly how it was,’ they wrote.
DeWitt plans to propose at next year’s Anthrocon a dream Nadeau will not get to share. Instead, her loved ones are seeing signs of her presence everywhere, from the colors she loved to the places she frequented. They plan to honor her by sewing some of her fursuit into their own and retiring the well-loved hyena by burning it, as well as throwing the biggest party ever in her memory.
‘She was a massive party girl and I know that she would have wanted me to throw literally the biggest party I’ve ever thrown ever for her — and that’s my plan,’ DeWitt said, reflecting on Nadeau’s love for life and celebration.
