Brett Thoms
Pontiac October 31, 2022
The Sûreté du Québec in the MRC Pontiac is still searching for 57-year-old Michael Scandiffio, who went missing on October 1 after attending Oktoberfest in Ladysmith.
Scandiffio left Ladysmith at approximately 8 p.m. and was thought to be heading towards his cottage in Otter Lake and has not been seen since. He was driving a black 2017 Ford Escape with the license plate number BNXP701.
Sûreté du Québec still lacks leads as to his possible location and encourages the public to remain vigilant for any signs of Scandiffio or his vehicle.
In particular the SQ encourages hunters and anyone walking in the bush to remain vigilant and report any clue or lead, regardless of how seemingly inconsequential.
So far, the SQ has initiated various aerial searches of bush around Thorne and Otter Lake, canvassed various households in the area and reviewed available security camera footage. More helicopter searches of the area are to come, according to the SQ.
As of now the SQ still lacks leads and has investigated any potential clue they have received.
The head of the investigation said a stolen car with Ontario plates with a similar description to Scandiffio’s car was found between Shawville and Ladysmith, which was reported stolen in 2021 and had nothing to do with Scandiffio’s disappearance. He also commented on a reported sighting of someone fitting Scandiffio’s description in Ottawa but was investigated and found not to be him.
The SQ says the surrounding authorities like the OPP, the Ottawa Police, Sécurité Publique MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais and the RMCP are being kept informed of the search efforts, yet there is no evidence of him leaving the area and therefore search efforts remain the most intensive in the territory of the MRC Pontiac.
Any information that could help find him can be passed on confidentially to the SQ at 1-800-659-4264.
