April 16 9:30 a.m. update
A man that went missing this week has been found dead, his wife told BayToday.
Katie Smellie says she is not sure of the circumstances at this time, but a news release will be issued shortly by police.
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Original April 15 article
NORTH BAY — A St. Charles woman says her 65-year-old husband is missing after travelling to North Bay, and she fears foul play.
"I am so worried that I will do anything to get the message out," Katie Smellie told BayToday.
St. Charles is a one-hour drive west of North Bay.
Smellie said her husband Bob had emergency surgery on his back March 31 to re-align nine of his spinal discs.
"Bob had been having a hard time getting in and out of the truck and I have a left arm and neck disc injury. We had come to our conclusion that a truck is no longer any good to us."
The couple were going to sell their truck and buy an SUV-type vehicle which they hoped would suit their needs.
So Bob placed an ad on Kijiji to sell his 2003 Chevy Avalanche.
"He got many hits but one buyer was so sure that he was buying the truck. Bob had an appointment at the North Bay Hospital for Monday April 11 so Bob arranged with the guy/guys to meet at the hospital for 9 a.m. Bob left home at 7 a.m. I don't believe there was anything wrong at that time. Bob had remembered to ask me for my spare key to the truck."
Now, Katie fears her husband has been kidnapped and their truck stolen.
"The plan was that if the truck sold he would go on to his doctors appointment then take the bus back to Hagar and I was to call friends of ours to go pick him up. As Bob was leaving I asked if he had any change for the pay phone as it would not take debit. He said no, so I gave him four quarters, as pay phones take 50 cents. At that time we also discussed that if the truck did not sell that there was plenty of money in the bank for gas. I had used the truck on the Saturday to go shopping in Sturgeon Falls and I had only put in $40. I knew after coming home from Sturgeon, and then Bob going back to North Bay, it would need gas almost immediately.
"Then he left. I have not seen him since. I have not heard from him. He has not accessed any money from the bank. Not even for a coffee. Bob drinks a whole pot of coffee in the mornings to my one cup. Besides that he never goes too far in the truck without getting a Timmy's coffee."
That was three days ago, around 7 a.m. April 12.
Smellie referenced the case of Hamilton man Tim Bosma, who posted his truck for sale in Kijiji. Bosma, 32, left his Ancaster home on May 6, 2013. He was taking two men for a test drive in his pickup truck that he had posted online.
Bosma never returned and the ashes of his body were found a week later.
Bob Smellie is described as:
- 6’2”
- 141 lb
- White Male
- Short Gray hair
- Brown Eyes
- Possibly wearing blue jeans, black t-shirt, camo jacket and brown hiker boots.
Katie is anxious that her story be circulated around the north.
"Bob worked in Blind River for several years and also worked for Loblaws for 30 years and got moved around from store to store."
If you have any information or have seen Bob Smellie, please call the Noelville Detachment of the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).