Update, August 16, 2023: Missing 75 and 82-year-old men

August 16, 2023
Brantville, New Brunswick

News release

Update, August 16, 2023: On August 16, 2023, at approximately 8 a.m., police were notified that members from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) had located a body in the water near Portage Island. The body has since been positively identified as Aldéric Thibodeau. Police would like to thank the public, as well as the many agencies that have assisted in these search efforts. We express our condolences to the friends, families, and community of Aldéric and Léandre Thibodeau.

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Update, August 15, 2023: Police have now covered approximately 750 square kilometres of land and water combined in their search for Alderic and Léandre Thibodeau. On August 13, the body of one of the men was recovered. Police are still actively seeking any information that may help further their investigation, or locate the second man, and will be following up on any leads.

Police would like to thank the public, as well as the many agencies that have assisted in these search efforts, including Ground Search and Rescue teams, The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Justice and Public Safety, the Emergency Measures Organization, the Canadian Coast Guard, the Tracadie Fire Department, and the Esgenoopetitj Fishery Guardians.

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Update, August 13, 2023: on August 12, 2023, at approximately 10 a.m., police were notified that an individual had found a body in the area that police were searching for Alderic and Léandre Thibodeau. The body has since been identified as one of the missing men. Members of the Neguac RCMP detachment and a number of RCMP specialized policing services will remain in the area over the coming days as search efforts continue.

Police are asking the public to avoid the Neguac Wharf as they continue their investigation, and are asking boaters in the Portage Island area to slow down and to be cautious of divers who are assisting with the search. Anyone with information that may help further the investigation is asked to contact the Neguac RCMP at 506-776-3000.

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Update, August 11, 2023: The Neguac RCMP are still trying to locate Aldéric and Léandre Thibodeau, who were last seen on August 7, 2023, at approximately 1 p.m., at the wharf on Robertson Brook Road in Brantvillle. An RCMP Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operator (UAV) and the RCMP helicopter will be in the area today, August 11, between 3 and 5 p.m., as part of the ongoing search. If you have information that could help locate them, please contact the Neguac RCMP at 506-776-3000.

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The Neguac RCMP is asking for the public's help to locate two men who went fishing and never returned in Brantville, N.B.

75-year-old Aldéric Thibodeau, and 82-year-old Léandre Thibodeau, were last seen on August 7, 2023, at approximately 1 p.m., at the wharf on Robertson Brook Road in Brantville. The two men had left to go fishing, and did not return. Police and their families are concerned for their wellbeing.

Aldéric Thibodeau is described as being approximately five feet five inches (170 centimetres) tall, and weighing approximately 150 pounds (68 kilograms). He has green eyes, and short grey hair. He was last seen wearing an orange ball cap, green rubber fishing boots, and a grey jacket.

Léandre Thibodeau was last seen wearing a yellow rain jacket with a white t-shirt underneath, and grey pants. He has a bald head. No other physical description is available at this time.

On August 8 at approximately 8:30 a.m., members of the Tracadie Fire Department and the Canadian Coast Guard recovered an overturned boat near Portage Island, which matched the description of the boat that the two men were travelling in.

The Tracadie Fire Department, the Candian Coast Guard, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, and the Neguac RCMP are continuing to search for Aldéric Thibodeau and Léandre Thibodeau. If you have seen either of the men since 1 p.m. on August 7, or if you have information that could help locate them, please contact the Neguac RCMP at 506-776-3000.

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Contact information

Sgt. Patrick Dupont
Neguac Detachment
Northeast District RCMP
506-776-3000

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