On a summer day in June 1994, a 25-year-old Indigenous man named David Allan Chevrier vanished from North Bay, Ontario. The exact date is unclear, with reports citing both June 22nd and June 23rd as the day he was last seen. David was a resident of a group home on McIntyre Street West at the time of his disappearance. He was a vulnerable individual, living with schizophrenia and an intellectual disability resulting from a brain injury sustained in a car accident, which left him with the
cognitive function of a young child. David was last seen leaving his group home, possibly heading to the Centre of Friends in downtown North Bay. He was wearing a black t-shirt or sleeveless top and grey track pants. David was known to be a wanderer and had a habit of talking to himself and squinting. He was described as having a dark complexion, standing approximately six feet tall, and weighing around 160 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair in a crew cut style.
The investigation into David's disappearance began promptly, with the North Bay Police Service conducting extensive searches. They focused on areas he was known to frequent and followed up on several potential sightings. One possible sighting placed him near the government dock area on the shoreline of Lake Nipissing. The Ontario Provincial Police's helicopter unit was brought in to assist with a thorough search of the lake's shoreline and surrounding areas, but unfortunately, these efforts yielded no results. Over the years, the case has remained open, and investigators have continued to explore any new leads, including the challenging task of trying to match David's case with unidentified remains found across the province and the country. In 2016, the North Bay Police held a media conference to bring renewed attention to David's case, with his sister participating in the appeal for information.
David's sister, Pauline, has never given up hope of finding out what happened to her brother. She has expressed her fear that he may have met with foul play. She has also voiced concerns that his case may not have received the priority it deserved due to his being poor, mentally ill, and Indigenous. The passage of time has not eased the pain for his family, who are left with unanswered questions. The case of David Allan Chevrier is a reminder of the many long-term missing persons cases that leave families in a state of perpetual uncertainty. Despite the passage of decades, the hope remains that someone, somewhere, has information that could finally provide answers and bring a measure of peace to his loved ones. The North Bay Police Service continues to ask anyone with information regarding David's disappearance to come forward.Last Seen: Jun 22, 1994
