'We've got to get them home': Organization continues search for missing London Ont. women
An organization who has assisted in locating 40 missing people since 2018, has its sights set on the Thames River near Cavendish Park in London, Ont.
‘Please Bring Me Home’ (PBMH) executive director Nick Oldrieve has come from Owen Sound to help try to find the remains of missing women Kathryn Bordato and Shelley Desrochers.
“The alleged perpetrator of Kathryn’s disappearance and likely murder had openly stated that he had dropped Kathryn off at this park,” said Oldrieve.
“That was the last time she was seen. There's no evidence of her whereabouts after that. We have reason to believe that this is where he had dumped Kathryn's body somewhere in Cavendish Park and more likely down towards the river.”
Volunteers with PBMH worked the river looking for evidence of remains, clothing or anything that could be tied to Bordato (who went missing in 2009) and Desrochers (missing since 2016).
The group was looking for Shelley Desrochers (L) and Kathryn Bordato (R) (Source: London Police Service/Please Bring Me Home)
London police have stated that Ronald Kevin Fangrad was dating Bordato, a 44-year-old mother of two. They say she was last seen around Riverside Drive and Wharncliffe Road.
Fangrad had ties to both women who lived “high risk lifestyles” in the sex trade.
“Ronald, he's now deceased, and he was dating Kathryn at the time that she went missing,” said Oldrieve.
The organization ‘Please Bring Me Home’ is putting up posters of Ronald Kevin Fangrad who is believed to have connections to both missing women Shelley Desrochers and Kathryn Bordato. Fangrad died in 2020. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
“Shelley had last logged on to her social networks on his computer around the time she went missing. And that was the last evidence we have of her as well, so there is an obvious connection between the two. Is it just all coincidence? I really don't think so. I think he more likely is, involved in both of their disappearances.”
Seven volunteers joined Oldrieve Saturday in the search which started under the bridge at Wharncliffe Rd. and Riverside drive.
Among them was Roberta Kilbourne.
“I'm the lead investigator because I've known Shelley since the age of 12,” said Kilbourne. “I know Shelley and Kathryn personally because I worked for Children's Aid Society at that time. Shelley used to hang out in this area, and Kathryn was last seen here supposedly.”
Kilbourne said she was in contact with Desrochers through the years, and was devastated when she saw the billboard of Shelley on Hamilton Road in 2017.
“We’ve got to get them home,” said Kilbourne. “I'll never stop until we get them home.”
The teams split up on the north and south side of the Thames, often communicating with wireless radios.
Nick Oldrieve, executive director of search organization ‘Please Bring Me Home’ communicates via radio with one of his team members (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
They are hoping to have the same result as earlier this year when they found Eric Spencer in Georgian Bay after he was missing for five-and-a-half years.
“The hope is that we locate human remains today that end up being Shelley or Kathryn,” said Oldrieve.
“If we locate human remains, it's somebody's, so someone's going to be able to go home. Even if we clear this riverside, that's still progress for us. That means that we searched it and there was nothing here and it narrows down the locations but if we find them, it’s even better.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, dies at 91
Quincy Jones, the multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson's historic 'Thriller' album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, has died at 91.
Trump says he 'shouldn't have left' the White House as he closes campaign with increasingly dark message
Donald Trump, who said in Pennsylvania on Sunday that he regrets leaving the White House in 2021, is ending the 2024 campaign the way he began it – dishing out a stew of violent, disparaging rhetoric and repeated warnings that he will not accept defeat if it comes.
Guelph, Ont. woman says she was pushed to homelessness and 'thrown on the street'
For people living on the fringe of society, the line between the safety and security of a home and homelessness is very thin.
Poilievre asks premiers to axe their sales taxes on new homes worth under $1 million
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to the provinces' premiers, asking them to eliminate their sales taxes on new homes that are under $1 million.
James Van Der Beek says he has colorectal cancer
The 'Dawson’s Creek' alum told People magazine in a statement published Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.
Where should Canada look to improve its housing situation? The answer may shock you
Housing experts argue widespread adoption of government-supported affordable housing, the growth of alternative models like co-operatives and co-housing, and the increased use of advanced building techniques could all play a role in improving Canada's housing system.
No strike notice so far as talks continue between Canada Post and workers' union
Canada Post says talks are continuing with the union that represents postal workers and neither side has given notice of a work stoppage.
Utility says power back on in Kimmirut after days-long outage
Power has been restored to a Nunavut hamlet on Baffin Island following a days-long outage that began on Thursday.
Russell Brand could be charged with sexual assault following allegations
British prosecutors say they have been given a file of evidence from police about alleged sexual offenses by comedian Russell Brand and are considering whether to charge him.