Missing Kitchener resident linked to arson investigation

The Waterloo Regional Police Service is looking for a person who has been missing since a fire broke out at a Kitchener home. CTV’s Heather Senoran reports.

Waterloo Regional Police say one of the residents of a Kitchener home, which went up in flames on Oct. 19, remains missing.

Emergency responders were called to Major Street around 6 a.m. for a fire at the rear of the residence.

Crews extinguished the flames but not before it caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to the structure.

Firefighters told CTV News they conducted an extensive search of the home after being told at least one person may still be inside. No one was found and no injuries were reported.

While investigators have not yet shared the cause of the fire, they believe it was arson.

On Wednesday, police confirmed the person who lived in the rear unit of the home was also missing.

“Investigators believe there are suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance and that this is a targeted incident,” they said.

Eli Wood, 25, is described as approximately 4’10” and weighing between 85 lbs. and 95 lbs. They have green eyes, partial white eyebrows and eyelashes, as well as white hair. Wood also has a flower and seahorse tattoo on their left forearm and a rainbow tattoo on their upper right arm.

“We don’t have any information to indicate that Eli Wood was involved in setting the fire or anything like that. We won’t know that until we speak to them,” WRPS Inspector Kyle Lambert said.

Police said they want to check on Wood’s wellbeing.

“Anytime you have a significant fire like that and we’re not able to locate the tenant that lives there, it causes some concern and some suspicion,” Lambert said.

The Office of the Fire Marshal is also looking into the circumstances surrounding the fire. They surveyed the damage at the Major Street home on Monday.

Anyone with information that can help with the investigation is asked to contact police at 519-570-9777, ext. 8191, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.