Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2014003978) and
1 other sourceOn the evening of December 31, 1973, in Chatham, Ontario, a 28-year-old man named Ernest Robert Pfaff told his family he was going out to buy a loaf of bread. He left his home around 8:00 p.m. and was never seen or heard from again. At the time he went missing, Ernest was described as being 5'7' tall, with a medium build, and light brown hair. He was last seen wearing blue slacks, a purple shirt, a beige and brown wool sweater, and a three-quarter length pile coat.
Ernest departed in his vehicle, a 1972 Ford Maverick that was light blue with red pinstripes on the sides. The car, with a possible license plate of CNH 175, also vanished without a trace. In the days and weeks that followed, the lack of any communication from Ernest or any sightings of him or his car deepened the mystery of his disappearance. The initial investigation by the former Chatham police service yielded no significant leads or information regarding his whereabouts.
Years turned into decades, and the case of Ernest Pfaff grew cold. For his family, particularly his son, growing up without a father was a difficult reality. It was known that at the time of his disappearance, Ernest was experiencing profound grief over the recent death of his infant son and had previously attempted suicide. This personal struggle has led to speculation that he may have chosen to start a new life elsewhere, a feat that would have been more achievable in 1973 than in the modern era. The case was re-examined in 1997, and his information was submitted to the Violent Crime Linkage System. In 2015, the case was officially reopened and his details were added to Canada's Missing national website, renewing hope for some form of closure. Despite these efforts, the disappearance of Ernest Robert Pfaff remains an unresolved mystery, leaving his loved ones with unanswered questions about the fate of a young father who went out for a loaf of bread and never returned.Last Seen: Dec 31, 1973
