Family of missing Thunder Bay man begin grid searches along Highway 11 in northern Ontario

The family of a missing man who was hitchhiking from Constance Lake First Nation to Thunder Bay, Ont., has begun conducting highway grid searches near where he was last seen.

Dean Mattinas, 27, was last seen in the early morning hours of March 18 in Constance Lake. His family told CBC News that he left an elder's house around 5 a.m.

There were two confirmed sightings of him that day, about sixkilometres from Calstockjunction, but no further sightings have been confirmed since, said Mattinas' cousin Robyn Bunting.

Thunder Bay is about 500 kilometres southwest of Constance Lake, which is roughly a five-and-a-half-hour drive along Highway 11 to Highway 17.

Mattinas is described as five feet 10 inches tall with an athletic build, black hair, brown eyesand a thin moustache with slight sideburns.

He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket, blue jeans, brown bootsand had a black Under Armour backpack.

Both the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) and OPP North East Region are involved in the ongoing investigation, a NAPS spokesperson told CBC News.

Anyone with information about Mattinas' whereabouts is asked to contact the NAPS Constance Lake detachment at 705-463-1048.

They can also contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Timeline of Mattinas' disappearance

Mattinas was trying to get to Thunder Bay by March 20, when he was supposed to attend a meeting before flying up to Sandy Lake First Nation for work. He lives in Thunder Bay and typically works in two-week stints, Bunting explained.

Dean Mattinas Sr., his father, told CBC News he messaged his son on Facebook on March 27 to check in with him, but the message was not delivered. The family began alerting friends and relatives, and reported him missing to police on March 29.

Mattinas is a member of Whitesand First Nation, but his father and much of his family are from Constance Lake. Mattinas Sr. says his son is outgoing and a hard worker, and is close with his family.

The family conducted a ground search in Thunder Bay the weekend of March 30 and handed out flyers, and then returned to Constance Lake to search there.

"Ever since I got back from Thunder Bay, I've been out there every day trying to look for something small, because it's been three weeks now. It's too long," Mattinas Sr. said.

Family requests help with searches

After meeting with a NAPS constable for advice, Bunting said the family conducted a grid search starting from Highway 11 to Eagle's Earth on Saturday.

Bunting said the search began with a prayer and offers of tobacco.

"Prayers helpbut we need people," Bunting said. "We need people to walk. We need people to help us look,and we're not getting that and we're getting tired.

"We're trying our best to do what we canbut we need help."

The community's chief has offered assistance to members of the search party, including help with refreshments, water and gasoline, but the family is also appealing to Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Matawa First Nations Management for further support.

Bunting said the family has asked members of Constance Lake to check their security cameras from when Mattinas first went missing.

The family is planning a second search along Highway 11 on Sundayfrom Eagle's Earth to Hornepayne. Anyone who wishes to get involved is asked to contact Alanda Mattinas at 705-372-3856.