The father of a missing man from Wasagamack First Nation wants the public’s help to generate new clues to find his son.
John Hastings was 27 when he disappeared one year ago.
Hastings was reported missing and was last seen leaving a residence in downtown Winnipeg on Oct.16 of 2015 at around 3 a.m.
The last time Patrick Harper Sr. saw and spoke to his adopted son was last October, before Hastings left his home community of Wasagamack to travel to Winnipeg for a medical appointment.
Harper Sr. said not knowing where Hastings went is the hardest part.
"This last year has been so hard with John not in our lives," he said. "We love him and miss him."
Hastings has three children of his own, but Harper Sr. said they are too young to understand their father is missing.
Harper Sr. said Hastings spent time working at the 'Wasagamack Teepee Station,' a local radio and TV station, prior to his disappearance. He said Hastings is shy but began opening up more thanks to his time spent working with community members at the station.
Detective Sergeant Shaunna Neufeld with the Missing Persons Unit said the investigation remains open.
“A lot of steps and progress has been made in this investigation, but we still need the public to come forward,” said Neufeld. “We’re still looking for anyone with information that can assist us in this investigation to provide that.”
In November of 2015, Winnipeg police said a man matching Hastings' description was spotted hitchhiking near Waywayseecappo on Oct.19 of 2015. Investigators have since ruled out the possibility the man seen was Hastings.
“We don’t believe that to be the case now,” said Neufeld.
Hastings is five feet nine inches (175 centimetres) tall with a thin build, short black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt with gray markings on the sleeves and black jeans.
Anyone with information regarding Hastings' disappearance is asked to call the Winnipeg Police Service's Missing Person's Unit at 204-986-6250.
