Search for missing sailor Benoit Bilodeau now joint investigation

COLE HARBOUR, N.S. – The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service has turned the search for missing sailor Benoit Bilodeau into a joint investigation with the Nova Scotia RCMP and the Halifax Regional Police.

“Each investigation is going to be different. This is an investigation which has led in a certain direction,” said Cst. Mark Skinner, media relations officer for the RCMP.

Why it has led to that direction and what that entails is not being revealed, nor is what was found (if anything) during today’s search of an area, including Salt Marsh Trail.

Bilodeau, 48, was last seen walking near a bus stop in front of 12 Wing Shearwater on Saturday, November 21.

The team will be part of the Special Investigations Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division.

READ MORE: Crews hope last cellphone ping will help find missing Shearwater sailor

Today’s search included the use of canine teams, and four teams made up of six people. Whether the search would continue at that location will be determined later on in the evening, Skinner added.

Bilodeau’s sister, Mireille Bergeron, said over the phone from Kingston, Ont., that the disappearance has taken a significant toll on her family.

“There is no chance that he decided to take his own life, there is no chance that he just decided to run away, so that leaves us with few options, and most of those options are quite dramatic, if you can say,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There is no chance that he decided to take his own life, there is no chance that he just decided to run away, so that leaves us with few options, and most of those options are quite dramatic, if you can say," she said.

Bergeron added that Bilodeau helped arrange an upcoming family Christmas party, one she said she hopes to enjoy together in the coming weeks.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service has turned the search for Benoit Bilodeau into a joint investigation with the Nova Scotia RCMP and the Halifax Regional Police.