In the late afternoon or early evening of September 8, 1994, 68-year-old Walter Charles Westbrook was seen for the last time in North Bay, Ontario. A resident of Charlton, Ontario, Walter was passing through the area with two family members, with the intention of returning to Strathroy. The group had made a stop at the Highwayman Restaurant on Highway 11 North to refuel their motor home and make some necessary repairs to the vehicle.
Concern over Walter's driving had led his family to take his keys, a decision that resulted in a confrontation. In an agitated state, Walter walked away from the restaurant and was last seen heading southbound on the west shoulder of Highway 11, apparently attempting to hitchhike into the city of North Bay.
At the time of his disappearance, Walter was described as being in a vulnerable state. He was reportedly living with dementia and was also described as being confrontational and paranoid. Physically, he was dealing with a serious medical condition, as one of his legs had gangrene that was said to be black all the way to his knee. When he vanished, he was wearing green work pants, a green jacket, a ball cap, and notably thick glasses. His physical stature was slender, standing at six feet two inches tall and weighing around 141 pounds, with a ruddy complexion, short grey hair, and brown eyes.
After Walter walked off, his family's attempts to find him along the highway were unsuccessful, and they reported him missing to the North Bay Police Service. Despite the passage of years, the police investigation into his disappearance has not yielded any definitive answers, and the case remains unsolved. The circumstances of that September day—a family dispute, Walter's vulnerable health conditions, and his subsequent decision to hitchhike—have left his loved ones without closure. The official investigation into what happened to Walter Charles Westbrook after he walked away from the restaurant continues.Last Seen: Sep 8, 1994
