Provincial authorities have disclosed the discovery of a third set of human remains at a location near Smiths Falls in eastern Ontario. The latest remains have been confirmed to belong to Lawrence Bertrim, who was last seen in downtown Smiths Falls in September 2022. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Bertrim’s death, and as of now, no charges have been filed. A reward of $50,000 remains available for anyone providing information leading to a conviction in this case, according to OPP statements. Bertrim was 42 years old when he went missing.
OPP Detective Inspector Jennifer Patton expressed that finding Lawrence Bertrim is a significant development for his family, who have been seeking answers for almost four years, and for the investigative team devoted to this case. The police urge patience from the public as they continue to pursue leads in the investigation.
Bertrim’s remains were located on the Kelly Jordan Road property on August 6, one day after the police announced the discovery of another missing man, Robert Lambert, on the same property in July. While no charges have been laid in Lambert’s case, authorities had suspicions of foul play at the time.
Notably, Robbie Thomson’s remains were also found on the same property in October 2025, leading to the arrest of four individuals in connection with his death, three of whom are facing charges of first-degree murder.
Bertrim and Thomson were acquainted, as reported by CBC News in 2023. The two were believed to have known Steven Tate, whose body was found in a ditch along Highway 15 in November 2023. Tate’s death, along with the disappearances of Bertrim and Thomson, had a profound impact on the Smiths Falls community, with the discoveries of the human remains deeply affecting the town and its surrounding rural areas, as noted by local authorities.