CANADA 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.

File not found | Fichier non trouvé

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.

 

[dotr]

October 31, 2025 rbbm

OPP find human remains near Smiths Falls day after murder charges laid in missing person case

Ontario Provincial Police say three people have been charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of a Smiths Falls man.

www.ctvnews.ca

''Robbie Thomson went missing in October 2023. The OPP say the investigation has determined Thomson was the victim of a homicide, despite the fact that his body has not been found.

On Friday, the OPP said human remains were found at a property on Kelly Jordan Road, northeast of Smiths Falls, but say an autopsy is required to confirm the identity and cause of death.''

''Robbie Thomson, seen here in an undated photo, has been missing since October 2023. (OPP/supplied)

''Officers from the Smiths Falls Police Service, Lanark County OPP, and the Kingston Police Service arrested three people on Wednesday.

Christopher Fenton, 48, of Montague Township; Erin Mackie, 40, of Montague Township; and Joshua Belfiori, 34, of Kingston are each charged with first-degree murder.''

 

[dotr]

Wow, another Smith Falls connection! rbbm
October 31, 2025.

Murder accused in Smiths Falls disappearance co-owns house with another missing man

CBC News has learned that Chris Fenton, one of the people charged with first-degree murder in the disappearance of Robbie Thompson, co-owns a house with Robert Lambert, another missing man.

ca.news.yahoo.com

''Robert Lambert has been missing since 2018 from the Smiths Falls area, according to Ontario Provincial Police. (Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook - image credit)
A man charged this week with first-degree murder in the disappearance of Robbie Thomson in Smiths Falls co-owns a property with another missing man — a property being extensively searched by Ontario Provincial Police.
Property records show Robert Lambert bought the densely wooded lot on Kelly Jordan Road in Montague Township near Smiths Falls in 2004.''

D

CANADA Post in thread 'Canada- Robert Lambert,75, missing from home, Montague Township, Ont., LE told that he travelled to US, (no record of it),2018,* New initiative,$50K*'

Aug 1, 2025

https://www.quintenews.com/2025/08/01/reward-offered-to-find-man-missing-for-seven-years/

''The OPP Criminal Investigation Branch is overseeing the investigation by the Lanark County OPP Crime Unit, as foul play cannot be ruled out in the disappearance.

Robert Lambert is described as:

• 6’3″ tall
• Medium build
• White hair
• Brown eyes

A photograph of Lambert is attached, and a new video has been published on the OPP East Region social media platforms, including OPP East Region X (@OPP_ ER), Facebook (OPPEast) and Instagram (@opp_east).

Anyone with information...

• dotr

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[AndrewM71]

Just driving into SF this afternoon and see a billboard for the 2023 unsolved murder of Giles Dagenais in nearby Toledo; 66 year old found dead in his home.

 

[dotr]

Just driving into SF this afternoon and see a billboard for the 2023 unsolved murder of Giles Dagenais in nearby Toledo; 66 year old found dead in his home.

Started thread..

D

CANADA Thread 'Canada- Giles Dagenais, 66, found murdered @ home, Toledo, Smith Falls, Ontario, 31 July, 2023, *New initiative*.'

Nov 2, 2025

October 22 2025

Who killed Giles Dagenais? Police in Toledo seek information in 2023 homicide

The Leeds County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police is seeking information from the public regarding the homicide of 66-year-old Giles Dagenais in Toledo.

www.insideottawavalley.com

''Do you have information relating to the homicide of Giles Dagenais of Toledo?
The Leeds County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is turning to the public to find the person or people responsible for the death of Dagenais.
The 66-year-old was found dead in his home on Baker Road in the small village of Toledo, just south of Smiths Falls in Elizabethtown-Kitley Township on...

• dotr

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[dotr]

Freezing conditions pause search after remains found in Smiths Falls missing person case | Globalnews.ca

On Thursday, investigators said the size of the property and increasingly frozen ground have made it difficult to continue the 'detailed and thorough' search.

globalnews.ca

Jan 16, 2026
''Ontario Provincial Police say a detailed search of a rural property near Smiths Falls has been temporarily suspended due to freezing ground conditions, following the discovery of human remains in a missing person case.

The remains of 34-year-old Robbie Thomson were found in October at a residence on Kelly Jordan Road in Montague Township.

Thomson, a Smiths Falls resident, was reported missing in the fall of 2023. Three people, ranging in ages 34 to 48, have been charged with first-degree murder in Thomson’s death and remain in custody.''

 

[dotr]

Lengthy, lots of info. about each of the MPs at link..

https://archive.ph/2026.02.26-104802/https://ottawacitizen.com/feature/smiths-falls-mystery

By Nicholas Kohler
Feb 26, 2026 • Last updated 1 hour ago

Bridget Manahan and her mother Linda Mindle, both of Perth, Ont., are desperate to know the whereabouts of Bridget’s brother Lawrence Bertrim, who disappeared from the streets of Smiths Falls in September 2022. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

 

[SubzeroSongie]

Unless I'm missing something, this might be serial