NIPIGON, Ont. - With two people now facing charges in connection with the disappearance of 26-year-old Alyssa Turnbull, the Ontario Provincial Police continue to seek information that could help determine what actually happened to her in the spring of 2020.
“We again call on anyone who is listening or watching to reach out, even if you think the information is insignificant, please reach out and talk to our investigators, let us know what that little tidbit of information is because it could lead to us locating Alyssa’s remains and bring closure to her family,” said Bill Dickson, acting manager of media relations with the OPP.
Turnbull was last seen in the Nipigon, Ont. area between March 23 and 25, 2020 and she was reported missing to police on April 14, 2020.
Earlier this week police arrested and charged Brian Soos, 60, and his son, Nicholas Soos, 27 in connection with Turnbull’s disappearance. Both are charged with committing an indignity to human remains and obstruction of justice.
Dickson said Brian and Nicholas Soos are not being charged with abducting or murdering Turnbull, adding that the charge of committing an indignity to human remains is fairly broad under the Criminal Code of Canada.
“We wouldn’t have been able to lay the charge if there weren’t the grounds there that we believe these individuals did have some connection to Alyssa’s body after the fact,” Dickson said.
In April 2022, the OPP confirmed that foul play was suspected in Turnbull’s disappearance and the evidence found so far has led police to the conclusion that she is likely deceased.
“We believe Alyssa was taken and she was killed,” Dickson said. “Will we ever find her remains? We hope so. We will continue trying and we will continue looking. You need to have a body before you can say categorically that someone is deceased. At this point, there has been no sign of Alyssa since she disappeared. There has been no trace of her, no online trace, no physical evidence of her having been somewhere.”
In a statement issued Wednesday morning, the OPP said the two accused and Turnbull had ‘common interests.’ Dickson said he could not elaborate on the common interests at this time but that it will play a role as evidence as the matter moves through the courts.
Dickson added that Brian and Nicholas Soos will be questioned about Turnbull’s disappearance but he cannot speculate on what they might or might not know.
“That is part of the ongoing investigation, but we can’t rely on that,” he said. “We want to talk to everyone who was in the area who might have that piece of information that could lead to solving this case and finding out what really happened to Alyssa Turnbull.”
This case has also drawn a lot of speculation in the public, but Dickson said investigators need facts and evidence, not stories, to draw any meaningful conclusions.
But the public’s help is still needed in an investigation that has been ongoing for more than two years and still has many unanswered questions.
“Public information has played a part in this investigation and will hopefully continue to play a part in this investigation,” Dickson said. “But there is also a lot of solid police work has gone into this. It has taken time, a 27-month investigation. That is a lot of work, a lot of officers involved, a lot of leg work, and a lot of detective work. Public tips are leading to good information in this case.”
A $50,000 reward is still being offered for any information that results in the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in Turnbull’s disappearance or aids police in locating her.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police service. Police will follow up on any information provided, regardless of how insignificant it may seem.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip.
Brian and Nicholas Soos have been remanded into custody pending their next court appearance.
