Russell Hoffert

Missing since: April 7^th, 2000
Year of birth: 1965
Age at disappearance: 34
Gender: Male
Bio group: Indigenous (First Nations)
Eye colour: Brown
Hair: Black, curly, thick
Height: 170 cm / 5 ft 7 in
Weight: 83 kg / 183 lb
Build: slender / thin
Scar: on abdomen

Three-day search led to negative results

On Friday April 7^th, 2000 shortly after at 10 p.m., Russell Hoffert, a 34-year old voluntary patient of the former North Bay Psychiatric Hospital, was reported missing to police by hospital staff. He walked away from the hospital grounds wearing only a blue long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and running shoes. The weather was cold, in the minus 10 degrees Celsius range, with a wind chill below 20 degrees and blowing and drifting snow.

Patrol and Emergency Response Team officers of the North Bay Police Service, with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police’s canine unit and helicopter and the Anishnabek Police’s four-wheelers, searched Bomarc Road off Highway 11 where it was believed he had gone, as well as the surrounding wooded area and nearby gravel pit.

Area residents were also canvassed in attempts to gain more information from potential witnesses. Unfortunately, the three-day search led to negative results.

Today, his case file remains open and unsolved.

There is no evidence to suggest foul play.

Submit a tip

Anyone with information that may help us with this investigation is asked to call the North Bay Police Service at 705-497-5555 (and select option 5 to speak to a police officer), or visit us in person at 135 Princess Street West, North Bay.

For those who wish to remain anonymous, contact Near North Crime Stoppers by telephone toll-free at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a tip online at nearnorthcrimestoppers.com.