Lethbridge man’s disappearance a hoax: police
Posted Feb 5, 2013 2:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Police say a southern Alberta man’s disappearance last week was a hoax.
Last Thursday, Matthew Robillard of Lethbridge left his home for work in Picture Butte and never showed up.
His car with a smashed window was later found in Calgary and Saturday morning he turned up at a hotel and it looked like he had been beaten up.
Investigators say the 25-year-old made it look like he had disappeared under suspicious circumstances.
Frantic friends and family set up search parties and issued pleas on social media for help to find Robillard last week.
Staff Sergeant Ian Sanderson says they were unfortunately duped.
“We can certainly empathize with these people, they didn’t know, they went about something with all the best of intentions and at this point in time Mr. Robillard has to answer to his own actions within those family dynamics and all those friends family and associates that are involved in that search,” said S/Sgt Sanderson.
The investigation is ongoing and has turned into a public mischief investigation.
