Renewed effort to find North Bay man who disappeared in 2009

Robbie Aho vanished on Oct. 12, 2009, after being seen leaving Marten River’s Land O’Lakes Cottages. Despite extensive OPP searches, he remains missing.

Ontario Provincial Police in the North Bay area are still trying to find out what happened to a man who went missing 17 years ago after walking along Highway 11.

OPP have created a new social media video to try to reinvigorate the public’s interest in the missing person’s case — and find out what happened to Robbie Aho.

His parents, Terry and Patricia Aho, are still desperate for answers. Speaking with CTV News, Patricia laid her head on Terry’s shoulder in tears, clutching a photo of Robbie.

While they haven’t given up hope, as the years go by, they admit it gets harder and harder on the family.

“It’s been terribly rough. Just rough,” Terry said.

“It’s not just once in a while that we think about him. It’s every day, all day, 24/7.”

The Ahos last saw their son Oct. 12, 2009. He walked away from Land O’Lakes Lodge in Marten River at around 1 p.m. before turning west on Highwy 64 — and hasn’t been seen since.

He was last seen wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs long-sleeved shirt, a black vest and a blue baseball cap.

Aho was also carrying a duffel bag and a pack sack. He had a change of clothes with him.

He has epilepsy and was carrying a couple of days’ worth of epilepsy medication when he disappeared.

Police are renewing the push to find Aho, releasing a new social media video on what would be his 48th birthday.

“He had friends everywhere and he wouldn’t (refuse) to help anybody, whoever wanted it,” Terry said.

Police conducted ground and aerial searches from Sudbury to Marten River at the time, without any luck.

“The case is not closed. The OPP continues to review the file,” OPP Const. Kyler Brouwer said.

“They follow up on information and seek tips from the public. Any tips that we receive, we follow up on every one of them.”

A few days after his disappearance, some of his clothing was found along the highway near Pozniak’s Lodge and Arthur’s Road, but there was no trace of Robbie anywhere.

“There are so many different things that could have happened. It’s hard to say,” Terry said.

Police say they continue to dedicate time to not just finding him, but all missing people cases in Ontario.

“Even if they become years old, the investigation remains open and the investigators continue to dedicate time and follow up on all tips,” Brouwer added.

The new video includes a digitally enhanced sketch of what police investigators believe Aho would look like today.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477.

“Robbie, if you can hear this, let us know where you are and I’ll be there in a minute to pick you up,” Terry said.

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