In the summer of 1976, 31-year-old Norman Richard Welsh was on vacation with his mother in the North Bay area of Ontario, a trip that took an unfortunate turn. Originally from St. Catharines, Norman was last seen on July 19, 1976, after an incident the previous day led to him being brought to the North Bay Psychiatric Hospital. Upset and uncooperative, he expressed a strong desire to return home.
While being escorted by hospital staff, Norman ran off into a wooded area on the hospital grounds and has not been seen or heard from since. At the time of his disappearance, it is believed he had only $14 in his possession.
Norman is described as a Caucasian male, standing at 6'0" to 6'1" tall with a slim build, weighing between 134 and 141 pounds. He had short, straight brown hair, blue eyes, and a dark complexion. Distinguishing features included a surgical scar on his head, a missing upper left front tooth for which he wore a partial denture, and slightly stained teeth. When he was last seen, he was wearing a black and white checked shirt, dark blue and grey checkered knit pants, and slippers. Critically, Norman suffered from epilepsy and required medication, which he did not have with him when he disappeared. This condition meant he was known to have seizures and would have difficulty recovering without assistance.
The North Bay Police Service, along with hospital staff, conducted several searches of the hospital grounds and surrounding area immediately following his disappearance, but they were unable to find any trace of him. His case is one of several unsolved missing persons cases from the former North Bay Psychiatric Hospital. The investigation into Norman Richard Welsh's disappearance remains open, and authorities continue to seek any information that might shed light on what happened to him after he ran into the woods on that July day. His disappearance is a long-standing cold case for the North Bay Police Service, a painful mystery for his family who were left without answers.Last Seen: Jul 19, 1976
