THUNDER BAY — The last two years have been a nightmare for the family of Alex Lawson, who was last seen leaving his north side apartment on Nov. 27, 2022.
“Despite ongoing efforts, we still have not been able to locate him,” said Kim Lawson, speaking on Wednesday about her father’s disappearance.
“These past few years have been a nightmare and living in this unknown has been extremely difficult,” she said. “His disappearance has left us baffled and heartbroken.”
Joseph Alexander Lawson, commonly known as Alex, was 65 when he was last seen on video surveillance in the 200 block of Madeline Street.
Det-Const. Brent Parres said this has been the most extensive missing person investigation in Thunder Bay Police Service history.
“We've exhausted a lot of resources right from the beginning with physical searches, drone searches. We've done waterway searches. We've had canine dogs attend and we've taken many pleas from the public, many different comments and follow ups,” he said.
Parres said there have been reported sightings from all over the country, from Winnipeg to Vancouver.
However, there have been no confirmed sightings of Lawson during the last two years.
Lawson was seen on video and by eye witnesses in the 200 block of Madeline Street on Nov. 27, 2022 but Parres said “after that, we have no real idea of his movements from that point forward.”
Lawson is described as an Indigenous man about five-foot-six with a medium build. He has long, straight grey hair, brown eyes and usually has facial hair.
He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, a light-coloured North Face puffer jacket with a dark upper area, blue jeans and black shoes.
The Lawson family is imploring anyone with information “to do the right thing and come forward.”
“Every tip is important and your help can be the key to bringing our dad back to us,” said Kim Lawson. “I urge everyone to share this message and help us keep the search for our dad alive.”
There is a cash reward of $15,000 being offered for information that directly leads investigators to confirm Lawson’s whereabouts.
Thunder Bay police have a dedicated tipline at 807-684-1055. Anyone wanting to be eligible for the reward must leave their name and a phone number when contacting the tipline.
Information can also be given anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the Please Bring Me Home anonymous tip line at 1-226-702-2728.
