Police expand ‘geographic’ search for missing Whitby father

ABOVE: Global’s Mark Carcasole has the latest information on the search for Jeffrey Boucher

TORONTO – Durham police are expanding their geographic search Thursday for a Whitby father who went missing after going for a jog on Monday.

“We have searched a radius surrounding the home of Mr. Boucher of 15 to 20 kilometres. Now we’re moving to the north, south, east, and west,” said Durham police spokesperson Nancy van Rooy.

Police say they still have no concrete clues as to the whereabouts of 52-year-old Jeffrey Boucher who went out for a morning run from his home east of Toronto and never returned, although authorities have said no one actually saw him leave.

Van Rooy told reporters at a media briefing Thursday that police have consulted with experts, including military search teams at CFB Trenton, concerning the length of time a person can stay outdoors in the mid-winter weather.

“The odds are not in his favour. It’s just too extreme to survive,” said van Rooy. “What experts have told us and given us is a 24 hour window.”

Police say they will scale down their search efforts beginning Thursday night and perhaps into Friday.

“The search itself at some point may come in time. Today is not that day. Tomorrow is not that day,” van Rooy said.

WATCH: Durham police spokesperson Nancy van Rooy explains how police are expanding their search area 

The Whitby man’s daughter tweeted on Sunday she was concerned for her father’s safety after he went for an extended run and didn’t return on time.

“Yeah, that was a false alarm,” Bettina Boucher said on Wednesday, adding she deleted the tweet because it wasn’t “relevant.”

“He usually comes home at 10 but it was so nice out he just stayed out until 11,” she said.

READ MORE: Whitby man missing since Monday allegedly disappeared for hours a day before

Police say Boucher’s bank accounts and credit cards have not been accessed since his disappearance and they have no reason to suspect foul play.

The Whitby father, who is also a teacher at Bowmanville High School, is described as an avid runner and some believe he may have been injured from a fall or collision.

“As we are runners, we don’t dress properly when we run,” said search volunteer Ian Baron on Wednesday. “We have light clothing because we build a lot of heat in our body. But when something does happen, if he collapses and faints, it’s going to be very hard to find him.”

Police have been unable to clearly identify the type of clothing he was wearing at the time of his run but believe he was wearing black and dark blue gear.

Investigators also can’t positively ID a person caught on surveillance video running towards Boucher’s house early Monday morning.

Boucher is described as white, six feet tall, 180 pounds with grey and white short hair.