CANADA Canada - Benjamin Trommels, 24, Niagara Falls Ontario, 11 Feb 2016

[NYanon]

Benjamin Trommels

Missing Person / NamUs #MP88168

Date of Last Contact: February 11, 2016
Missing From: Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York

Missing Age: 24
Current Age: 30

Male
Height: 5'8" (68 inches) [173 cm]
Weight: 170 lbs [77 kg]
White / Caucasian
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Subject Missing from Niagara Falls Ontario with comments of going to the Falls.

Note: The NAMUS page does state Benjamin Trommels is 'Missing From' Niagara Falls, NY, USA, in the top section; the lower comment states Benjamin Trommels is missing from N. Falls, Ont, CA. It seems unclear which is considered correct. This thread's title follows the information at the top.

 

[NYanon]

A bit more of information, including complexion and search efforts, with several photos, at this link.

 

[NYanon]

Monique Smith, mother of Benjamin Trommels, shares her belief that her son died by suicide, and the grief and wondering triggered by each report of remains of found in the area of Niagara Falls, in this article from Toronto.com.

 

[NYanon]

In this article, from the St. Catherines Standard, apparently approved by Monique Smith (mother of Benjamin Trommels), she is quoted as saying "But he could still be out there. . . I don't know, but I can't rule anything out right now."

Please Bring Me Home is the group asking for the public's help in this instance. They are stated to be comprised of volunteers who include "former law enforcement, private investigators, criminologists, and search and rescue experts". They share the following assurances regarding anonymity:

The group solicits anonymous tips by putting missing persons' faces and stories back on social media. Often, these tips come from people who won't — for various reasons — go to the police.

"A lot of people know stuff but they don't want to talk to the police," said Howlett. "Some people don't like police officers, some people have had bad dealings with law enforcement, or they're too afraid. Or they don't want to get involved."

The group shares its information with police while keeping tipsters anonymous.

Tipsters can contact the group by phone at 1-226-702-2728, by email at [email protected] or by letter at PO Box 74, Owen Sound, Ont., N4K 5P1.

Edit to add: Welland Tribune article seems to be duplicate (/vice versa).

 

[NYanon]

This 12 February 2022 article, which may have a paywall, mentions ambiguous loss (experienced by loved ones of missing persons), and writes about Law Enforcement utilising DNA in cases such as Benjamin Trommels and Patrick O'Connell. A bit of basic information is mentioned, regarding Canadian LE processes (RCMP, e.g.) in such cases, and that they have by now begun to coordinate with U.S. NAMUS:

Since 2018, the RCMP’s National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains, police, coroners and medical examiners across Canada have submitted biological samples and DNA profiles for missing persons and human remains investigations to the National Missing Persons DNA Program.

NRP Det. Const. Sara Mummery said the police service also works collaboratively with U.S. officials, particularly New York State Parks Police, as human remains are often recovered from both sides of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario.


Niagara police recently started submitting DNA samples for comparison to unidentified cases in the U.S. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

“When any investigation lead police to believe that an individual has entered the waterways between Canada or the U.S., we make all attempts to secure DNA and dental records on each side of the border to ensure identification can take place as soon as possible,” Mummery said.