The Brant County Ontario Provincial Police are hoping for new tips in a disappearance that happened nearly 30 years ago. Robert William Commu was last seen on March 31, 1996 in the former township of South Dumfries, which included the communities of St. George, Glen Morris and Harrisburg. At the time, he was 29-years-old and known to visit areas along the Grand River. Although searches were held, no sign of him was ever found. Police were told Commu may have been seen with two unidentified males in a pickup truck in the days leading up to his disappearance. Last year, Commu’s sister, Hilda Netzke, said she doesn’t believe Commu would have left the area by choice. “He had just changed the tire on his truck,” she said. “The lights were on [in the house], the door was open. The music was on, the same song was on repeat, his wallet was there.” According to Netzke, a neighbor reportedly saw Commu working on his truck on the evening of March 31. He said one moment Commu was patching a tire and the next, he was gone. “Absolutely nobody anywhere,” Netzke explained. “The search happened right away. The Grand [River] was searched and dredged. There were helicopters, dogs, everything.” She urged Commu to come forward if he is still out there somewhere “Rob, you’re so loved and if you’re still alive, open arms to you, there’s no judgment. He’s not been forgotten.” Commu was described as a 6’0” man who weighted approximately 180 lbs. He had long brown hair, blue eyes and had a tattoo of a lion with wings on his upper right arm. He was last seen wearing a white leather jacket with black sleeves and a red maple leaf on the back. Anyone with more information I surged to call police at 519-442-2242 or 1-888-310-1122 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at ontariocrimstoppers.ca. With files from Hannah Schmidt
