Derek Brenton RITZ Missing Person Case

Derek Brenton

RITZ

60

51

70 inches

70 inches

154 lbs

154 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the quiet, early hours of New Year's Day 2017, 51-year-old Derek Brenton Ritz, known affectionately as "Ritzy" to his friends, was seen for the last time in Sebringville, Ontario. Sources vary on the exact time, citing it as between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on either December 31, 2016, or January 1, 2017. He was spotted in the Avonton Road area, possibly getting into a vehicle. At the time of his disappearance, Derek was described as a Caucasian male, standing 5'11" and weighing around 170-177 pounds with a slender build. He had brown, shoulder-length hair, brown eyes, and a distinct tattoo of a woman with a snake on his right forearm. When he vanished, he was wearing blue jeans, a dark-coloured shirt, and a dark leather motorcycle jacket, and may have been carrying an orange backpack. It wasn't until a week later, on January 7, 2017, that he was officially reported missing to the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). The initial investigation into Derek's disappearance was handled by the OPP, who conducted a 26-hour search in and around Sebringville, utilizing both ground officers and a helicopter, but found no trace of him. In April 2019, the case was transferred to the Stratford Police Service, who have since conducted an exhaustive investigation. Authorities have interviewed more than 100 potential witnesses and carried out extensive searches of various properties in the area. Despite these efforts, the information gathered has largely been based on rumours and hearsay, without the hard evidence needed to resolve the case. A friend of Derek's, Shelly Smith, has worked tirelessly to keep his story alive through a Facebook page called "Justice for Ritzy". Her efforts led to the involvement of Please Bring Me Home, a non-profit organization that helps investigate cold cases. Investigators with the organization, after conducting dozens of their own interviews, came to the troubling theory that Derek may have been abducted and killed by a group of people. Years have passed, yet the search for answers continues. The case remains the City of Stratford's only cold case. In an effort to generate new leads, the Stratford Police Service announced a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the confirmed whereabouts of Derek, or to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for his disappearance. His loved ones are haunted by the silence and unanswered questions surrounding what happened to the man they describe as funny and caring. Friends acknowledge that he struggled with his demons, stemming from a traumatic childhood, but maintain that he did not deserve his fate. The investigation remains open and active, a solemn promise from law enforcement that they have not given up. The case of Derek Ritz is a story of a man who vanished from a small town, leaving a void in the lives of those who knew him. The community continues to hope that someone with crucial information will find the courage to come forward, finally bringing closure to a family and a community that has waited far too long for peace.

Dec 30, 2016

Sebringville

Ontario

Stratford Police Service OPP ONCMPUR ; 1-705-330-4144;

Ontario

[email protected]

1-877-934-6363

1-877-934-6363

Law Enforcement

ST19009491

Stratford Police Service OPP ONCMPUR ; 1-705-330-4144;

Brown

Brown

Brown

Build: Slender/Thin; Hair details: Long

No