Volunteers in northern Ont. search for clues in two missing persons cases
The volunteer missing persons investigation group Please Bring Me Home is in Timmins searching for two men who went missing ten years apart in the same area.
79-year-old Luciano Trinaistich went missing in 2007 and 44-year-old Christoper Rivers in 2017 but their vehicles were discovered in the same wooded area in northern Ontario. (Supplied)
The organization is hoping a search will turn up new evidence.
Volunteers are scouring the bush near Murphy Road, in hopes of finding clues about what happened to two men who disappeared in the same wooded area.
Luciano Trinaistich, then 79, went missing in July 2007 while blueberry picking. Christoper Rivers, 44, was reported missing just more than a decade later in August 2017.
The only evidence police uncovered was their abandoned vehicles.
“Chris’ car was found over there, Luciano’s was over there,” said Julie Charette with the search group.
“Between the two was 400 feet. So, that’s why we picked this area.”
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
Police conducted several ground searches for Rivers and one for Trinaistich at the times of their disappearances/ They all turned up empty.
Local volunteers recently conducted drone searches and now this group is determined to find evidence by searching on foot.
“We’re looking for bones, shallow graves, clothing, shoes, hats … keys, water bottles, anything that sparks our attention,” said Charette.
“Everything’s worth looking at, that’s for sure.”
The group has an anthropologist on standby to distinguish between animal and human remains. If a skull is found, police will be contacted right away.
Local prospector Ken Pye is leading the search. He told CTV News that this time of year is much better for a search than when the two men went missing.
“The blueberry patches were two feet high. It’s just like a carpet, you can’t see the ground. Right now, we can walk in the bush and see 20 feet in either direction and see the ground,” said Pye.
“So, maybe we’ve got a chance.”
The search group is a mix of local volunteers and family and friends.
The group said they are just doing what they can and hoping to find something to help.
A.J. Zimmerman worked with Trinaistich at the local EMS.
“He was my supervisor on the ambulance, way back when. I worked with his son, too, Marcel, and so on,” said Zimmerman.
“So, just trying to do my part, with my wife and myself.”
Though enough time has passed for some evidence to be overtaken by the bush, the search group said they are confident it will find something, having helped solve at least 17 missing persons cases across the country.
The group said “if there’s any evidence to be found here, it won’t stay hidden for long.”
Volunteers with the missing persons investigation group Please Bring Me Home searching an area near Murphy Road in Timmins in May 2023. (Sergio Arangio/CTV News Northern Ontario)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.