Guelph Police seek tips in historic missing persons cases

Guelph Police are hoping for a break in four cold cases. CTV’s Colton Wiens has more on the push for answers.

Guelph Police are asking for the public’s help in solving four separate cold cases.

The oldest dates back to 1975.

Police shared photos of the four individuals and details of their case on Tuesday.

“Our hope always is that we will receive information that will help us either locate these individuals or learn what happened to them,” said Scott Tracey of the Guelph Police Service. “In the vast majority of cases, almost all cases, we are able to locate the individual quite shortly after they’re reported missing through a number of investigative techniques. But these are the only four currently that are outstanding.”

Most importantly, police are looking for answers.

“These cases are incredibly difficult for the family,” said Tracey. “They are troubling cases and, obviously, exponentially more so for the families and friends that are left behind, with no answers from one day to the next. What happened to these people?”

The hope is that someone will finally come forward with a new clue.

“Either someone will recognize this person, will recognize the description, will remember some interaction that they may have had and pass that information along,” Tracey explained. “Any amount of information, even if someone thinks it’s a small thing or not really important, we would appreciate receiving that information, being able to follow up and, if nothing else, ruling it out.”

Tips can be made to the Major Crime Unit at 519-824-1212 or by email at [e-mail], as well as Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.csgw.tips.

Wilfred Bruder

Wilfred Bruder, also known as “Wolf,” has been missing since Feb. 28, 2004.

Police said the 50-year-old was last seen using a payphone at Willow West Mall in Guelph.

Bruder was described as a white male, approximately 5’5,” with a medium build and brown eyes. He had short brown hair with some partial balding, a moustache and had no ring finder on his left hand.

Police said there was an extensive investigation into Bruder’s disappearance, but they were not able to find him.

If alive today, Bruder would be 70 years old.

Anne Matthews

Anne Matthews was last seen at Homewood Health Centre, at 150 Delhi Street in Guelph, on Dec. 7, 1983.

The facility provides care for people struggling with addiction, trauma and mental health issues.

Police believe Matthews walked away on her own.

She was wearing a red felt coat with black embroidery along the bottom and fox fur around the hood, as well as a light-coloured turtleneck sweater, dark pants and beige boots.

Police said they conducted an extensive ground search and pursued other leads but were unable to determine where Matthews went.

David Krueger

David Krueger disappeared in 1979.

He graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph. He worked in the Alberta oil fields but, at the time he went missing, was living in a house on Liverpool Street.

According to police, he experienced “hardships in his life” after graduation.

In 1979, Krueger and a partner were running a hot tub business which police said was experiencing “financial difficulties.”

Then, just three weeks before he disappeared, Krueger’s mother passed away.

Police said it was possible he had been depressed.

Krueger spoke with Waterloo Regional Police on April 25, 1979.

Not long after, on May 2, 1979, he was reported missing by his business partner who said he last saw Krueger at his home on April 26, 1979.

Krueger’s car, a 1967 brown pickup, was found abandoned near the Finch Avenue TTC Station in Toronto in June 1979.

Krueger is described as 6’5” and had a large port wine birthmark on his lower right leg.

He would now be 73 years old.

John Zuern

John Zuern, of Guelph, was 21 years old when he disappeared.

He was a patient at a London hospital and left without permission on June 14, 1975.

On July 21, 1975, Zuern was officially declared missing.

Police said he was spotted in Toronto, where he appeared to be living on the streets in the area of Bloor Street West and Spadina Avenue.

The last sighting was reported in 1980, when he would have been 26 years old.

Zuern was described as approximately 5’11”, with a thin build and weighing between 135 and 140 lbs. He had blue eyes, long greyish-brown hair that hung past his shoulders and a noticeable limp.

Police said Zuern may have been experiencing mental health issues at the time of his disappearance.