Smith's Falls, Ontario, Canada - Missing Men 2022, 2023

[Senior Sleuth]

Canada - Ontario - Smith's Falls.​

There are several media reports on the cases of the missing men in Smith's Falls, Ontario.​

OPP's Criminal Investigations Branch takes over case of missing Smiths Falls man

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced that it's Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) is now overseeing the investigation into the disappearance of a 39-year-old from Smiths Falls.

ottawa.citynews.ca

Three friends vanished from a small, closeknit Canada town. Residents want answers

Three friends vanished from a small, close-knit Canadian town. Nobody knows what happened to them. Now, residents want answers. Martha McHardy reports

www.independent.co.uk

Police seeking tips, not rumours, in cases of two missing Smiths Falls men

Police say they "cannot speculate on any potential connection" between the two cases.

ottawacitizen.com

Missing man found dead near Smiths Falls was the victim of hit-and-run police say

A 34-year-old man was who was discovered dead close to Smiths Falls, Ontario was the victim of a hit-and-run incident according to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

ottawa.citynews.ca

Smith's Falls population is just over 9,000 persons.

Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Smiths Falls, Town (T) [Census subdivision], Ontario

Statistics Canada's Census Profile presents information from the 2021 Census of Population - Smiths Falls, Town (T) [Census subdivision], Ontario.

www12.statcan.gc.ca

 

[green_thumb1991]

Hi everyone,

I’m starting this thread to highlight a series of disturbing disappearances and deaths in Smiths Falls, Ontario, that seem to be going largely unnoticed. There have been five cases over the past two years, involving men with ties to the same small town and, in many cases, connections to drug use and street-level activity. As a community member who lives and works in this community, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact on the families and how little attention these cases are receiving because of the victims’ lifestyles.

Here’s a breakdown of what we know so far:

1. Lawrence Bertrim (43) has been missing since August 2022. There has been no trace of him, and his family believes foul play is involved, possibly linked to local drug activity(Global News).
   
   
2. Robbie Thomson (34) disappeared in May 2023. He was connected to similar circles as Lawrence, and rumors in the community suggest a potential link between their disappearances(Global News).
   
   
3. Mathew McGrath (52) vanished in January 2024, and his body was found in September 2024. His family continues to search for answers about the circumstances of his death(Global News).
   
   
4. Paul (39), the most recent case, went missing in September 2024 from Lombardy, just outside Smiths Falls. Police have renewed calls for information, but so far, there have been no leads(Global News)(UrbanMatter).
   
   
5. Steven Tate (34) was found dead in March 2023. He was the victim of a hit-and-run on a highway near Smiths Falls, but there have been no arrests, and the case remains unsolved(Global News).
   

Adding to this troubling pattern is the case of Debra Himmelman, whose body was found meters from her home after being missing for over a year. The case is cold, from 2004 and there have been no answers. Many in the community believe she was murdered because she was about to expose information linking local authorities to criminal activity. Her case, too, remains unsolved(UrbanMatter).

There are many rumors circulating about these cases, including suggestions that drug debts as low as $1,000 have led to some of these disappearances and deaths. Unfortunately, the connection to drugs seems to have caused these cases to be deprioritized by authorities, even though the families continue to seek answers. As someone who works closely with people in the community, I hear these rumors almost daily, and the fear and frustration are palpable.

If anyone has information or would like to discuss potential connections between these cases, I’d love to hear your thoughts. These men—and Debra—deserve justice, and I hope that by shining more light on their stories, we can help push for more answers. Our local police have not done enough for these men... leaving these families with little to no hope. Any sleuthing help is much appreciated

Best,
Green Thumb

 

[green_thumb1991]

Hi there - If I can bring more attention to this thread, share some updates and additional details regarding the missing men in Smiths Falls, Ontario, and the ongoing concerns in our community.

First, a quick recap of the current known cases:

• Lawrence Bertrim (43) went missing in August 2022. His family and the police believe he may have been murdered, though no body has been found yet(
  Global News).
• Robbie Thomson (34) disappeared in May 2023, and there has been no trace of him since(
  Global News).
• Mathew McGrath (52) went missing in January 2024, and his body was tragically found in September 2024. His family is still seeking answers(
  Global News).
• Paul (39) went missing in September 2024, last seen in Lombardy, just outside Smiths Falls. He is still missing, and police have renewed their call for information(
  UrbanMatter)(Global News).

The men’s connections to drug use and the undercurrent of drug-related activity in the community seem to be playing a role in how seriously their cases are being handled. Rumors continue to circulate that small drug debts—some as low as $1,000—could be behind some of these disappearances.

Another significant case that may be connected is the murder of Debra Himmelman, a high-ranking assistant in the local police and fire departments. Many in the community believe she was about to expose sensitive information linking local authorities to organized crime before she was murdered. Her body was found meters from her home, adding to the speculation that she was silenced for what she knew(UrbanMatter)(Global News).

There are persistent whispers of corruption and police involvement, but nothing has been confirmed. Unfortunately, the lack of progress in these cases is only fueling more frustration and fear in the community.I hope these updates help shine more light on these unsolved cases, and I encourage anyone with additional information to share. These families deserve answers.

 

[dotr]

By Natasha O'Neill Posted Oct 10, 2024

OPP, local police find stolen vehicle in Rideau River while searching for missing men

Police are searching the Rideau River at Lower Reach Park on Thursday in Smiths Falls as a part of an ongoing investigation.

ottawa.citynews.ca

(Left) Robbie Thomson, who would now be 35, was reported missing October 19, 2023. Lawrence Bertrim was last seen in downtown Smiths Falls on Sept. 30, 2022. (OPP)
''Police are searching the Rideau River at Lower Reach Park on Thursday in Smiths Falls as a part of an ongoing investigation into two missing person cases.
According to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), members of its Underwater Search and Recovery Unit are on scene. No roads are impacted and officials do not know how long the operation will take.

In an update just before 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, officials said divers recovered a vehicle from the river. There were no human remains in the vehicle and it was reported stolen in the 90s. The investigation into the stolen car will continue, officers said''

 

[AndrewM71]

Smiths Falls has its own police force doesn’t it?

I always thought that was unusual for a town that size, when most municipalities default to the OPP.