When Craig Hannon was trying to find out what happened to his 19-year-old son Nicholas, he phoned the men that would eventually be accused of his murder.
“I talked to them numerous times, touched base with them, see how they were doing…I’d ask them what’s the word on the street, what do you know,” said Craig.
“They had no answers.”
Three weeks ago Bradley Flaherty, Keith Tankard and Connor Campbell were charged with first-degree murder. They were longtime friends of Nicholas, and Craig knew them.
Or thought he did.
“I just about fell off my chair when I heard the names of the accused,” he told Global News, in his first interview since the day the charges were laid.
“Had them over lots of times, welcomed them into our home, and thought there was mutual respect.”
WATCH: Craig Hannon speaks about his son’s murder at an IHIT press conference announcing the charges
Craig, who was a hockey coach for Flaherty and Tankard years earlier, says he didn’t suspect anything when he talked to the accused on the phone.
“Was just calm, straight ahead, yeah we’re doing okay, don’t know anything,” he says.
“We all trusted them. They were the good guys.”
Nicholas went missing in February of 2014, just weeks shy of his 20th birthday. While the integrated Homicide Investigation Team took over the case of Hannon’s disappearance last August, it wasn’t until September 9, 19 months after his disappearance, that police announced they had found his body and charged his three friends.
“It was heartbreaking,” said Craig.
“He smiled from the day he was born to the day he left. He had a phenomenal smile, he could charm anybody. He had a twinkle in his eye, and could make anyone feel at ease.”
Extended interview: Craig Hannon speaks to Rumina Daya about learning three long time friends of his son had been charged with his murder
He says he isn’t sure whether he’ll be able to ever move on.
Coroners have returned Nicholas’ body to his family and a funeral will be held on Friday. For his family, it provides a small measure of closure.
“We’re just happy to have him back. They say he’s all there, so that’s good…I’ll have him back and be at peace,” he says.
But he knows final closure won’t come until after the trial. The next court appearance for Flaherty, Tankard and Campbell is this Monday, and Craig will be in attendance.
“He’d be there for me, so I better be there for him,” he says.