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Police narrow search for man connected to child's death

WRPS work in a coordinated effort with OPP underwater recovery teams to locate a Cambridge man connected to the suspicous death of an eight-year-old boy

Police are focusing their search for the missing man connected to the suspicious death of an eight-year-old Cambridge boy to the wooded areas and creek around the Townline Road property. 

Over the past few days, WRPS have been searching for 41-year-old Curtis Hesselink in coordination with OPP officers in the area where the incident took place. 

OPP underwater recovery teams have been deployed in order to search the Mill Pond area and other surrounding waterways. 

"They are continuing to search the area of Townline Road and in a property in the area,” said constable Andre Johnson. “"They are mixing up the searches in terms of canine and underwater teams and helicopters.”

Police have not revealed if they believe this is a recovery mission at this point, but keep the narrative that they are concerned for Hesselink's safety. 

"We're just trying to cover all of our bases in that sense because we continue to have concerns for his well being,” Johnson said.

Police chief Bryan Larkin said in a police board meeting this week that the investigation is focused on the property and the surrounding areas and does not think Hesselink has left Cambridge. 

“We do believe this is a suspicious death, although the post mortem was inconclusive, we are awaiting toxicology reports to determine cause of death,” said Larkin. 

On Saturday May 14, police responded to a call in the Townline Rd area and found an eight-year-old boy who they believe died of suspicious circumstances. 

After a few days of investigation, police named a 41-year-old Cambridge man, Curtis Hesselink as someone they believe has information about the boy's death.

Police have still not identified the relationship Hesselink has to the boy. 

Police have been unable to locate Hesselink and are asking anyone with information to contact the Waterloo Regional Police Service at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.  

Community support is available through Victim Services of Waterloo Region by visiting www.vswr.ca or by calling 519-585-2363 or 519-570-5143. Support is also available through Here 24/7 by visiting www.here247.ca or by calling 1-844-437-3247.
 


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Joe McGinty

About the Author: Joe McGinty

Joe McGinty is a multimedia journalist who covers local news in the Cambridge area. He is a graduate of Conestoga College and began his career as a freelance journalist at CambridgeToday before joining full time.
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