On January 27, 2026, 20-year-old Kasie Malcolm was exposed to a fatal concentration of toxic gas, just two weeks into a college internship at the Woodland Pulp mill Baileyville, Maine. Kasie’s mother and brother are being represented by Berman & Simmons attorney Elizabeth Kayatta.
Kasie Daisuke Malcolm was loved by his family around the world. He grew up in Japan, where his mom Yumiko and brother Alex still live. Kasie’s late father was originally from Sanford, Maine and then moved overseas while serving in the U.S. Navy. Kasie was born in California while his father was serving at the Lemoore Naval Station. After his father left the service, the family decided to return to Japan, where they settled in Yokosuka south of Tokyo. Kasie's brother, Alex, was born not long after the family's return to Japan and the brothers grew up together in Yokosuka.
After Kasie’s father passed away in 2016, Yumiko brought her sons to Maine so they could spend time with their late father’s extended family. When Kasie had the opportunity to return to the United States to attend school, he was very excited. He dreamed of becoming the first in his family to go to college. Kasie was an accomplished student and all-state athlete, and earned a scholarship to attend the University of Maine to study chemical engineering.
As part of his degree program, Kasie was a “co-op” intern at the Woodland Pulp paper mill in Baileyville, Maine. He was looking forward to the internship, and knew it would bring him one step closer to achieving his dream of becoming a college graduate. He would have been a member of the graduating class of 2027.
Kasie's mother and brother released a statement on Monday:
Our hearts are broken beyond belief by the loss of our beloved Kasie. Ever since he was a little boy, he lived his life full of curiosity, kindness, and adventure. Kasie couldn’t wait to make his mark on the world and was proud to be pursuing his education in America. Only 20 years old, he was full of hope for the bright future that lay ahead.
Our entire family, from Japan to Maine, mourns his loss. Every day brings a new wave of sorrow as we come to terms with the emptiness we have felt since his passing, knowing we will never again see his gentle smile, hear his laughter, or hold him in our arms.
We are deeply grateful to the friends and classmates who have reached out with kindness and shared stories about the joy Kasie brought to everyone who met him. Knowing how deeply he was loved brings us some comfort. Kasie was our pride, our joy, and our everything, and he will live on forever in our hearts and the hearts of all those who were luckily enough to know him.
Attorney Kayatta shared, "Right now the family’s focus is on mourning the loss of their son and brother and making arrangements to bring him home to Japan. An investigation by OSHA is underway at Woodland Pulp, and we are hoping to get answers about how this terrible loss could have happened in such a closely-regulated facility."
