Trent Hunter

In the early morning hours of a cold December day, the life of a 17-year-old boy from Wabaseemoong First Nation was tragically cut short. Trent Hunter, a young Native American man, was remembered for his love of the outdoors, particularly fishing and hunting. He was known for his sense of humour and his willingness to always lend a hand to those who needed it. His family described him as a kind and caring person who had a bright future ahead of him, a future he would never get to realize.

On Saturday, December 11, 2021, at approximately 3:25 a.m., the Treaty Three Police Service and paramedics were dispatched to a residence on Main Street East in the Wabaseemoong First Nation, an Ojibwe community about 65 kilometers northwest of Kenora, Ontario. They were responding to a report of an injured person. Upon arrival, they found Trent Hunter, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. His death was immediately treated as a homicide.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called in to assist the Treaty Three Police Service with the case. The investigation is being led by the OPP North West Region Crime Unit, under the direction of the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. Over the years, the OPP’s Forensic Identification Services and Emergency Response Team have also provided assistance to the investigation. Despite their efforts, the case grew cold, and no arrests have ever been made.

Trent’s case is listed among the OPP's Missing and Unsolved Murdered Indigenous People (MUMIP), a somber catalog of tragedies that have disproportionately affected Indigenous communities across the province and the country. For years, his family has waited for answers, enduring the pain of not knowing who was responsible for taking Trent from them and why.

In September 2026, nearly five years after Trent was killed, the Government of Ontario announced a significant step aimed at generating new leads. A $50,000 reward was offered for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his murder. Announcing the reward, Detective-Inspector Ryan Gordon of the OPP’s Criminal Investigation Branch made a direct appeal for information. "Trent’s family deserves answers," he stated in a news release. "We hope this reward encourages those with information to do the right thing and come forward with information. Even the smallest detail could be the piece investigators need to move this case forward."

As of September 2026, the investigation into Trent Hunter's homicide remains active and open. Police continue to believe that someone in the community has the information needed to solve this crime and bring a measure of closure to his grieving family and friends. The $50,000 reward remains in place.

Anyone with information regarding the death of Trent Hunter is urged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. For those who wish to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.