CONSTANCE LAKE FIRST NATION — Nearly six weeks after he was last seen, Dean Mattinas remains a missing person, but his loved ones aren't giving up the search.
The 27-year-old Thunder Bay resident had been in Constance Lake First Nation, where family members live, but was supposed to attend a meeting in the city on March 20 before catching a flight to his job at Sandy Lake First Nation.
It's believed he was trying to hitch a ride on Highway 11 several kilometres west of the community on the morning of March 18, but he has neither been seen nor heard from since.
He was reported missing on March 27.
His father, Earl Dean Mattinas, said Tuesday he's extremely concerned because the money from the paycheque that was deposited to his bank account on March 18 hasn't been touched, and he's put no messages on social media.
"We don't know what happened to him. The paycheque went into his bank and it's still sitting there. He's never done this before, because his job was so important to him."
Nishnawbe Aski Police Service and the OPP have both been involved in the search for Dean Mattinas.
An OPP spokesperson told Dougall Media the investigation is currently led by the James Bay detachment's crime unit with assistance from other branches including the Emergency Response Team, the canine unit, aviation services and the OPP remotely-piloted aircraft system.
"These specialty units have conducted searches of the area, however the missing person has not been located. The OPP is continuing to actively investigate this case, and urge anyone with information to contact the police or Crime Stoppers," Constable Kyler Brouwer said in a statement Monday.
Earl Mattinas said he fears his son could be wandering in the bush, or may have been picked up by someone who's hurt him.
He said he wishes he had more help in his own search for Dean, but he's grateful for the assistance that arrived Monday.
"I've been out there myself for every day, about 30 days doing this, just me and my four-wheeler. Yesterday, we got help from Cat Lake reservation. Seven of them came in. They're searching right now on the outskirts of the community, the back roads."
Dean Mattinas was last seen wearing a camo jacket, blue jeans, brown boots, and a black Under Armour brand backpack.
OPP previously issued an appeal to hear from anyone who may have relevant dash cam footage from Highway 11 near Constance Lake between the morning of March 17 and the evening of March 18.
