Peter David BIGHETTY Missing Person Case

Peter David

BIGHETTY

80

24

Indigenous

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving wilderness of northern Manitoba, a seasoned and well-respected outdoorsman, known to his family as a survivor, embarked on a journey that would leave his loved ones in a state of anxious uncertainty. Stanley Bighetty, a 73-year-old trapper and hunter, was last seen on April 30, 2019. His intended trek was a familiar one to him, a journey on foot from the community of Leaf Rapids to Pukatawagan, a significant distance of approximately 115 kilometers through a rugged landscape where roads do not exist. For a man who had spent his entire life in the woods, living off the land and navigating its challenges, this walk, while arduous, was not considered beyond his capabilities by those who knew him best. His niece described him as someone who always returned after a couple of days of hunting or fishing, making his extended absence deeply concerning for his family. Mr. Bighetty was not just an outdoorsman; he was a man deeply connected to the land he called home. He resided alone in a log cabin in Highrock, a sparsely populated hunting settlement nestled between Leaf Rapids and Pukatawagan, where he had lived his entire life. He was a widower and had no children, and his life was one of self-sufficiency, sustained by hunting, trapping, and fishing in the surrounding wilderness. His family described him as a kind-hearted and friendly individual who would give anything to anybody. Those who knew him well, including his cousin, spoke of his resilience and resourcefulness, recounting stories of him fending off bears and wolves. The forest was his home, and for him, the concept of being lost in it seemed almost impossible. His regular routine included traveling to Pukatawagan a few times a year for supplies, a trip he would make by snowmobile in the winter. His disappearance came at a time of year when he would typically be heading out to fish. The alarm was raised when Mr. Bighetty failed to make contact, a deviation from his usual habits that immediately unsettled his family. His neighbors, who would regularly check in on him, also reported not having heard from him. On May 21, 2019, nearly a month after he was last seen, Pukatawagan RCMP received a report of the missing elder, prompting a search by both ground and air. For his family, the wait for news has been an emotional ordeal, compounded by past tragedies. His niece expressed the immense stress and worry her family was experiencing, as they held onto the hope that his survival skills would see him through. The official search for Mr. Bighetty was launched in the challenging terrain he knew so well, a landscape that is particularly treacherous to travel over water in the summer. The overview of this case is one of a beloved and highly experienced outdoorsman who vanished while undertaking a journey he had likely made many times before. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain a painful mystery for his family and community, who continue to await any news of the man they remember as a true survivor of the northern wilderness.

Boots Rubber, Tall style Jacket Rubber Pants Rubber

Sep 20, 1969

Brochet Bay, Reindeer Lake

Manitoba

D Division Missing & Exploited Persons Unit

Manitoba

204-983-6055

204-983-6055

Law Enforcement

20141493416

D Division Missing & Exploited Persons Unit

Black

Brown

Brown

No