Family of man missing for nearly 3 years still looking for answers

It’s been almost three years since Robert Hutchison went missing. He was last seen in January 2021, and it’s still unknown what happened to him. Now, the family has started a billboard campaign to try and gather more information.

Hutchison was last in contact with his family on the night of January 31, 2021 – believed to be last seen around Manitoba Avenue and Artillery Street. Despite police investigations and help from the community, he remains missing. But in July of 2022, police said they believed foul play was involved.

“Leading up to his disappearance, he was suffering from some addictions, and we believe that has led to the reason for his disappearance,” said Andrea Scott, Sergeant in the Missing Persons Unit of the Winnipeg Police Service in 2022.

Hutchison’s cousin Paul Turenne says there has been no additional information, than what has been released so far. The family hopes the billboard campaign will change that.

“Robert was loved by a lot of people. He was missed by a lot of people,” said Turenne.

“Not knowing means there is no full answer. If there is an answer, and it’s not the outcome we are hoping for, at least that’s an answer and we know what happened and there can be some closure there. So, I think that is really what we are looking for at this point is some answers and closure.”

Hutchison was a cook and served in the military – coming from a military family. A GoFundMe campaign was started over the summer to fund the billboards and the family has teamed up with Crime Stoppers, who is offering a reward of up to $2,000.

“There’s one right now that launched at King Edward and Logan and then we have another one coming up that launches on the week of Dec. 11 and that one is at Notre Dame and Home Street, close to HSC. Those are scheduled to be up for a month each,” said Turenne.

Robert Mackenzie from Crime Stoppers says missing person cases that last for years, like this one involving Hutchison, are extremely tough.

“If anybody out there watching remembers something suspicious, or anything odd, in and around that time period, or if somebody had seen him after that, we’re asking them to come forward. They can come through Winnipeg Crime Stoppers. Going through the program, you will remain completely anonymous. No one will ever know it was you who provided that information,” said Mackenzie.