It’s been six days since Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini was last seen and the search for the missing Greater Sudbury politician continues.
Today (Feb. 2), Greater Sudbury Police along with North Shore Search and Rescue are conducting an active grid search in a swampy frozen wetland area off of Panache Lake Road.
GSPS officers and more than a dozen civilian searchers were part of the effort, trudging through knee-deep snow and heavy brush in an effort to find Vagnini.
The grid search is in an area that one unnamed searcher said was identified as an area where a person might have been seen.
While that search is underway, an overhead search effort continues with the aid of a Ontario Provincial Police helicopter. No word has been issued on whether anything has been seen.
In the past, helicopters have been helpful by eliminating areas where the missing person or their vehicle has not been seen, freeing up time and reaources for searching other areas.
Vagnini, 62, was last seen Jan. 27 driving a black 2021 Ram 1500 truck with Ontario licence plate BK 22178. It has a broken passenger side tail light.
As part of a news release yesterday, Jan. 31, GSPS released a residential video surveillance camera that captured Vagnini’s truck travelling westbound on McCharles Lake Road, between Whitefish and Naughton, at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Jan. 27.
This, Greater Sudbury Police Service noted in a media release issued at 4 p.m. on Jan. 31, is the last verified sighting of the Greater Sudbury city council member for Ward 2.
“Based on that information, it is believed that the vehicle and driver may have left the area,” according to the media release.
Shortly after 5:40 p.m. on Jan. 27, a vehicle matching the description was captured on video surveillance by a local business on Regional Road 55 west of Highway 24. Although it appeared to be driving eastbound toward Lively, GSPS reported that they are satisfied that video does not show Vagnini’s truck.
Vagnini was last seen wearing a bright yellow hooded sweater, green pants and black running shoes. Earlier in the day, he was seen wearing an Erie Otters jersey over top of the yellow hooded sweater. He does not have his phone with him.
Anyone who spoke with Michael in the days prior to Jan. 27, and who has not already spoken with police, is asked to call a dedicated tip line at 705-675-9171 Ext. 2320. Detectives are looking to gather additional information regarding conversations prior to Vagnini going missing.
The following is the latest known timeline of events:
- Friday evening: On Friday night, Vagnini posted on Facebook that he was looking into purchasing a fire truck and water rescue craft for Beaver Lake.
- Saturday, daytime: At some point during the day, Vagnini posed for a photo with Freedom Convoy protesters during their weekly gathering outside of Bell Park.
- Saturday, 5:40 p.m.: Vagnini’s truck is seen travelling westbound on McCharles Lake Road.
- Saturday evening: Vagnini was reported missing to GSPS.
- Sunday, noon: GSPS issued their first media release indicating that Vagnini is a missing person, prompting numerous community members to begin their own searches.
