Provincial authorities have reported the discovery of a third set of human remains at a location near Smiths Falls in eastern Ontario. The recently identified remains belong to Lawrence Bertrim, who was last seen in downtown Smiths Falls in September 2022. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are still investigating the cause of his death, and no charges have been filed. A reward of $50,000 for information leading to a conviction in his case remains available.
Bertrim was 42 years old when he went missing. Detective Inspector Jennifer Patton of the OPP expressed that finding Lawrence Bertrim is a significant development for his family and the investigative team. The public interest surrounding the discovery of three missing individuals at the same property has been acknowledged, and authorities are urging patience as they continue to pursue leads.
Bertrim’s remains were discovered on the Kelly Jordan Road property on August 6, following the earlier revelation of another missing man, Robert Lambert’s body on the same property in July. Although no charges have been laid in Lambert’s case, police have indicated suspicions of foul play.
In a separate incident, the remains of Robbie Thomson were found on the same residential property in October 2025. Four individuals have been charged in connection with Thomson’s death, with three facing first-degree murder charges. Bertrim and Thomson were acquainted, as reported by CBC News in 2023. They were also linked to Steven Tate, a 34-year-old whose body was found in a ditch along Highway 15 in November 2023.
The deaths of Tate, Bertrim, and Thomson created a sense of unease in the Smiths Falls area, with the discoveries of the first two sets of remains profoundly impacting the local community and surrounding rural regions, according to the area’s reeve.