What happened to the lost boys of Pickering?
Asked by
curiousExplorer89
It's been 30 years since six teenage friends—Jay Boyle, Chad Smith, Michael Cummins, Danny Higgins, Robbie Rumboldt, and Jamie Lefebvre—disappeared near Frenchman's Bay on Lake Ontario in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. After leaving a basement party around 12:50 a.m. on March 17, 1995, they were last seen near the marina. Surveillance footage captured three of them entering the marina area about an hour later. Investigators think they may have taken a small boat and a water tricycle out onto the icy lake without life jackets, potentially capsizing. Despite extensive search efforts, no trace of the boys, the boats, or their belongings was found, aside from a gas can possibly linked to the missing boat. Given the circumstances, why hasn't any physical evidence ever been located?
Answers
Frenchman’s Bay is part of Lake Ontario, which is enormous. Unfortunately, many people go missing in these waters, and hypothermia likely claimed these boys. Also, regarding the location by the East Shore Marina near the Pickering Nuclear Facility, it's worth noting you don’t actually need to pass it significantly to get to the lake. I grew up in the area, and I remember a relative of mine going missing on that lake too. His body surfaced after almost a year.
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It's a heartbreaking situation, but honestly, it doesn't seem overly mysterious to me.
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Lake Ontario is like an inland sea. For inexperienced boaters, getting lost on such a stormy winter night is not far-fetched at all.
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This isn't really a mystery; it’s a sad case showing how youthful overconfidence can clash with a harsh environment. The absence of wreckage or bodies isn't surprising in these circumstances.
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lakeLifeLover: People really underestimate how big (and deep!) some of the great lakes are.
fishingFriend22: I'm with you. Occam's razor on this one. Understanding the springtime lake temperatures and conditions, I can't imagine they navigated well in a 14 ft boat, especially with five of them inside. That's just too risky.