Authorities in the province have discovered a third set of human remains at a site located near Smiths Falls in eastern Ontario.
The newly found remains have been identified as those of Lawrence Bertrim, who was last spotted in downtown Smiths Falls in September 2022.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are still investigating the cause of his death, and as of now, no charges have been filed. Police have stated that a reward of $50,000 is still available for any information that leads to a conviction in his case.
At the time of his disappearance, Bertrim was 42 years old.
“The finding of Lawrence Bertrim is an important milestone for his family, who have been seeking answers for nearly four years, and for the investigative team that has tirelessly pursued this case,” OPP Det. Insp. Jennifer Patton mentioned in a press release.
“We recognize the public’s interest in the discovery of three missing persons at a single location and request patience as investigators continue to follow every lead,” she added.
Authorities reported that Bertrim’s remains were uncovered on the Kelly Jordan Road property on August 6, just one day after they announced the discovery of another missing individual, Robert Lambert, on the same site in July.
While no charges have been filed related to Lambert’s death, authorities indicated at that time that they believed foul play was involved.
The remains of Robbie Thomson were discovered on the same residential site in October 2025. Four individuals have been charged in relation to his death, including three who are facing first-degree murder charges.
According to reports from CBC News in 2023, Bertrim and Thomson were acquaintances. At that time, it was believed that they also had connections to 34-year-old Steven Tate, whose body was found in a ditch along Highway 15 in November 2023.
The deaths of Tate, along with the disappearances of Bertrim and Thomson, captivated the Smiths Falls community, and the findings of the initial two sets of remains profoundly impacted the small town and the surrounding rural area, as noted by the local reeve.