The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) released its comprehensive report on unsolved missing and murdered Indigenous persons today during a news conference in Vaughn.
The report, which covers only these cases within OPP jurisdictions, was presented by Commissioner Vince Hawkes and Detective Superintendent Dave Truax of OPP Criminal Investigation Services.
Also in attendance were Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day and Deputy Grand Chief Denise Stonefish of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians.
The report states that as of December 31, 2014, a total of 1,542 missing persons in Ontario were listed on the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database, 351 of which are from OPP jurisdictions - 61 females and 290 males.
For cases recorded between 1956 and 2014, there remains 48 unsolved missing Indigenous persons within the OPP's jurisdiction, eight of which are identified as female and 40 male.
Between 1964 and 2014, the OPP investigated 54 homicides involving Indigenous females, eight of which remain unsolved for a case clearance rate of 85.2 percent.
Between 1978 and 2014, the OPP investigated 126 homicides involving Indigenous males, one of which remains unsolved for a case clearance rate of 99.2 percent.
Some of the unsolved cases outlined in the report are those from the Barrie region.
They include:
Rachel Russell, age 29, Cobourg
On November 12, 2007, Rachel Russell, aged 29 years, was found murdered on a remote railway line in the Town of Cobourg. The OPP was requested by Cobourg Police to lead the investigation. It was later determined that she had died as a result of blunt force trauma.
Grant Ayerst, age 21, Orillia
Grant Ayerst, age 21, and Norman Whalley, age 36, both departed Vancouver, British Columbia, on September 7, 1991, and traveled by air to Toronto where they checked into the Bond Place Hotel at 65 Dundas Street East, Toronto. They had a return flight booked to Vancouver on September 13, 1991. They checked out of the hotel on September 11, 1991. Neither Ayerst nor Whalley has been seen or heard from since. Ayerst was reported missing on November 15, 1991. As a result of information received, the OPP began an investigation in the Orillia area in attempt to locate Ayerst and Whalley.
Ralph Monague and Curtis Smith, both age 21, Christian Island
Ralph Monague and Curtis Smith, both age 21, went missing on December 22, 1985, while travelling on the ferry from Cedar Point to Christian Island. The weather was very poor and they were instructed by the ferry operator to stay inside the main cabin. However, both parties went outside on the deck. The ferry was hit by a large wave which threw both males overboard. The bodies of the males have never been recovered.
Full text of a news release issued today by the Ontario Provincial Police regarding the report on missing and unsolved murdered Indigenous persons follows.
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VAUGHAN - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has released a comprehensive report on missing and unsolved murdered indigenous people in OPP jurisdiction.
The report was released at a news conference today by Commissioner J.V.N. (Vince) Hawkes and Detective Superintendent Dave Truax of OPP Criminal Investigation Services who were accompanied by Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day and Deputy Grand Chief Denise Stonefish of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians.
Beginning in 2011, the OPP began proactively reviewing all available information on homicide investigations and unsolved missing persons and unidentified remains in OPP jurisdiction where the victim was identified or self-identified as Aboriginal.
The report covers a period from 1956 to 2014.
To the end of 2014, there were 54 homicides involving Indigenous females on OPP jurisdiction; eight (8) of which remain unsolved for a clearance rate of 85.2 percent.
Of the 46 solved female Indigenous homicides:
- 9 were murdered by family member;
- 17 were murdered by domestic partner/spouse;
- 19 were murdered by persons known to victim; and,
- 1 was of unknown circumstances.
For the period of 1978 to December 2014, inclusive, there were 126 homicides of Indigenous males in OPP jurisdiction – only one remains unsolved for a clearance rate of 99.2 percent.
Of the 125 cases that were solved:
- 35 were murdered by family members;
- 10 were murdered by domestic partner/spouse;
- 70 were murdered by persons known to victim;
- 9 were of unknown circumstances; and,
- 1 is not available.
During the same period, there were eight (8) missing Indigenous females reported to the OPP who remain missing – foul play is possible or suspected in one (1) of these occurrences.
Presently, there are 39 cases that involve missing Indigenous males.
Police believe foul play is possible or suspected for 22 missing Indigenous men; 17 are considered missing persons.
The OPP Report on Missing And Unsolved Murdered Indigenous People In OPP Jurisdiction is currently available in English via the OPP websiteand will be translated in French, the five recognized Aboriginal languages in Ontario - Cree, Oji-Cree, Ojibway, Oneida, and Mohawk - and in Algonquin.
Quotes
"We recognize that there are many unanswered questions and that we cannot reverse the outcomes for the families and loved ones of those have gone missing or were murdered. We hope information in the OPP report generates further discussion, potential leads, and/or resolution for the families and communities who have suffered loss." - Commissioner J.V.N. (Vince) Hawkes, Ontario Provincial Police
"The release of this report is timely to the start of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) National Inquiry and the release of the full report from the Truth and Reconciliation process. Now it's time to get work done based on a new social lens in Canada. Reconciliation means that all Canadians, all organizations, all political stripes and authorities, roll up their sleeves and begin to change a Nation. The Ontario Provincial Police report on missing and murdered First Nation citizens gives us a good starting point." - Chief Isadore Day, Ontario Regional Chief, Assembly of First Nations
Did you know
Policing responsibility in Ontario is shared by the OPP, 52 municipal and/or regional police services, and nine (9) self-directed First Nation police services.
OPP jurisdiction includes geographic areas under direct OPP policing including 324 Ontario municipalities, some of which have transitioned with their records and files to the OPP in recent years, along with 38 First Nations communities the OPP polices directly or for which it administers policing.
The 52 jurisdictions that are not policed by the OPP are independent or regional municipalities within the Province of Ontario that receive policing services under terms of the Police Services Act.
These are self-funded, stand-alone municipal or regional police services covering their respective geographic boundaries.
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