CANADA Canada - Terry Zubko, 18, North Bay, Ont, 21 July 1982

The family of Terry Zubko continues their search; they spoke recently on the 34th anniversary of his disappearance.

North Bay Police File

Ontario's Missing Adults

Doe Network



Vital Statistics
Date Of Birth: June 4, 1964
Age at Time of Disappearance: 18 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5’8”-5’9” (173 cm - 175 cm); 125 lbs. (57 kg).
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Brown hair, long and straight; hazel (blue/grey) eyes.
Marks, Scars: Slight scar on upper left nostril; 12” scar on inner arm (unknown which arm).
Medical: Reports indicate he suffers from amnesia – catatonic, chemical imbalance and requires medication.
Clothing: Blue jeans; blue shirt; brown and beige striped v-neck sweater; blue running shoes, size 9 OR possibly brown cords; off white long sleeve pull over with black stripe on the collar.
Dentals: Available
AKA: Terry

Circumstances of Disappearance
Zubko was last seen in North Bay, Ontario on July 21, 1982. Terry Zubko had been a patient of the North Bay Psychiatric Hospital. He eloped from the hospital July 21, 1982 at 1000 hours. It is unknown what his diagnosis was at the time.

North Bay man missing for 34 years

Terry Zubko's family has pleaded for answers about his disappearance for 34 years. And their search continues.

Zubko's sister Alana Cawston, niece Sarah Foreman and mother Audrey Zubko travelled from Fort Frances and Sault Ste. Marie to attend a media conference Thursday at North Bay police headquarters marking the 34th anniversary of his disappearance.

"It's overwhelming," said Cawston. "We're reliving this nightmare over and over and over again. The sadness is raw, but we want answers."

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While Cawston and her family are still grieving, she doesn't hide the fact she blames her brother's disappearance on the hospital.

"I want them (the hospital) to take responsibility. An apology is simply not enough for what we have suffered," she said.

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Det. Const. Scott Buchanan said he's heard the criticisms from Zubko's family, but isn't in a position to comment on the investigation conducted by police and the hospital 34 years ago.

"I wasn't a police officer at that time. But from documents, I am aware that the hospital did extensive searches along highways and in bushes before police got involved," he said.

The North Bay Regional Health Centre was contacted for a comment on the case.

"The NBRHC empathizes with the families of missing loved ones and we take the safety and security of our patients seriously. The North Bay Psychiatric Hospital is a different organization than the North Bay Regional Health Centre and there is no one at the organization that can accurately or factually comment on a patient case from 34 years ago."

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FWIW, there are a couple of other missing persons who were patients at the same facility. I doubt there's a sinister connection since they occurred years apart. Hopefully this renewed attention will help them find Terry.

Family wants more answers after son disappeared 34 years ago today

Terry was sent to the North Bay Psychiatric Hospital as an involuntary patient from Sault Ste. Marie in May of 1982. The family says Terry was afraid of hospitals, especially ones like the old North Bay Psychiatric Hospital which was located on Highway 11 North of the city.

They are just surprised how easy it seemed to be for Terry to leave the premises only weeks before being considered a level four patient needing the highest level of security.

“Terry left the hospital premises with only the shirt on his back, pants and shoes, no ID no money, no way to find home, and disappeared,” Alana said.

“We the family, believe it’s time for the government, the mental health system and the North Bay Psychiatric Hospital to acknowledge and accept that they failed my brother and many others by their indifference to provide quality care and safety to the most vulnerable of our society.”

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Bumping for Terry as we approach the 38th anniversary of his disappearance

Private Investigator seeking answers over missing persons cases at old psychiatric hospital - Timmins News

Snipped...
...They may be decades apart but Ellen White still sees unique parallels between six missing persons cases which all are tied to the old North Bay Psychiatric Hospital which was located on Highway 11 North, north of the city of North Bay.

Ellen White, is a private investigator who runs a podcast called “Whereabouts Unknown".

"The common link is they all happened at the old psychiatric hospital; the old building on the highway," said White, who is based out of Barrie.

The six, include Philippe Guerin (1966), Dawn Carisse (2001), Terry Zubko (1982), Norman Welsh (1976), Glen Wesley (2010) and Russell Hoffert (2000).