2019 Missing Person Case Closed - VICE

With the help of a keen community member and national databases, we have been able to close a missing person case from 2019.

Patrick VICE, of Calgary, was reported missing by his family on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, and was last seen in the early hours of that day walking in downtown Calgary. VICE had presented indications of distress to his family and uncharacteristic behaviour prior to his disappearance.

This information was concerning to police and an investigation began. After all possible leads came up negative to locate VICE, investigators reached out to media and citizens for help.

“We report missing persons to the public with hopes of their support to locate individuals after all possible leads have been exhausted,” said Constable Evan Nelson of the Missing Persons Team. “Tips and information we receive from citizens is valuable and has proven to be instrumental in moving forward many missing persons cases.”

Last month, a Good Samaritan from Kelowna recognized similarities between VICE’s missing person profile and details of a John Doe, who’s remains were found on Dec. 14, 2019, in Vancouver, both listed on the Canada’s Missing website, and notified authorities.

Managed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada’s Missing is a component of the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR) website, which is Canada's national centre that assists law enforcement, medical examiners, and chief coroners with missing persons and unidentified remains investigations across the country. NCMPUR also offers investigative support with the National Missing Persons DNA Program (NMPDP), which has helped to link missing persons to unidentified remains through DNA testing.

The BC Coroners Service reviewed the Good Samaritan’s tip and through DNA testing revealed that the unknown remains recovered on Dec. 14, 2019, in Vancouver, were that of Patrick VICE.

“Our investigators utilize many different tactics when searching for missing individuals and the NCMPUR, NMPDP and an empathetic citizen, all helped to bring closure to this case,” said Constable Nelson. “We are grateful we were able to bring Patrick home to his loved ones who never stopped searching for him. We appreciate our relationship with the public and their investment in helping to look for fellow citizens.”

This is the second CPS missing person case where the national databases have supported our officers with linking unidentified remains to a missing Calgarian.

Each year, the Calgary Police Service receives roughly 6,000 missing person reports. Many of these files are successfully resolved in a short period of time because the person is located, however there is a percentage of cases that remain open for years.

We want to remind the public that information about missing persons can be reported to police by calling the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234, or the Calgary Police Service Missing Persons Tip Line at 403-428-2250. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

APP: P3 Tips

Case #19535469/4524