Eduardo Balaquit has been missing since June 4, 2018. (Facebook)
Winnipeg,Manitoba
Police seek 2 people in connection with disappearance of Eduardo Balaquit
59-year-old Winnipeg man didn’t return home from work more than 3 weeks ago
This is one of the two people who police believe may have information about the disappearance of Eduardo Balaquit. (Submitted by the Winnipeg Police Service)
Police have released photos of two people they want to speak to about the disappearance of Winnipeg father Edwardo Balaquit three weeks ago.
Investigators believe the two may be able to provide assistance with the investigation, a Winnipeg Police Service news release says.
This is the second person police believe may have information about the disappearance of Eduardo Balaquit.(Submitted by the Winnipeg Police Service)
Eduardo Balaquit was last seen between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on June 4 near 380 Keewatin St., where he was supposed to do janitorial work.
His van was found near his workplace with a smashed passenger window, his cellphone on a seat and some personal belongings scattered on the ground.
Investigators believe Balaquit was a victim of crime.
Last week, police wound down a search for Balaquit north of the city in the Arborg area. Balaquit’s family and rural community members have continued to comb over farmlands and along gravel roads in hopes of finding signs of the 59-year-old.
“[Police] obviously have something. What it is, I mean, obviously they can’t confirm it or deny it,” Balaquit’s son, Edward Balaquit, said on the phone from Arborg on Wednesday.
“Their investigation is going. They’re obviously following up on information that is hopefully helping find my dad.”
Edward Balaquit said his father’s disappearance hasn’t become easier to process in the intervening weeks.
“He’s possibly still with someone, maybe in a house or something. We don’t know. It’s just all speculation, unfortunately,” he said.
“But the fact that in all bushes and all the ditches that we looked into, I mean, in all the farmlands, that we didn’t find him — there’s still hope that he’s still alive.”
Balaquit is 5-foot-4, 155 pounds and has a medium build. He was last seen wearing a black zip-up sweater, black pants and black shoes.
‘It’s something to us’
Winnipeg Police Service Const. Jay Murray said he couldn’t reveal when or where the photos of the two individuals were taken, other than that they were taken in Winnipeg.
“Homicide investigators have been trying to be very careful with how much information they release in this case,” he said.
He said investigators have been working relentlessly since Balaquit’s disappearance but weren’t able to identify the two men in the images internally.
“If this is weighing on somebody, if somebody has information in regards to the disappearance of Eduardo and it’s been weighing on you — come forward and contact either our homicide unit at 986-6508, or you can provide information anonymously to Crime Stoppers, and that’s at 204-786-TIPS,” Murray said.
Edward Balaquit said it’s heartening to see police bring forward a new lead, although investigators weren’t able to share details about who the men are with the family, either.
“It’s really good to see. If they didn’t have anything, that’s more concerning,” he said. “The fact that they’re letting everyone know that they have something … it’s something to us.”
Police have released photos of two people they want to speak to about the disappearance of Winnipeg father Edwardo Balaquit three weeks ago. 1:45