Terry Thomas Baxter - missing from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada - November 21, 1996
- Terynn Boulton
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
On Thursday, November 21, 1996, around 7 p.m., 15-year-old, Terry Thomas Baxter, and 66-year-old, Baron Mario Sciortino, a family friend, set out from Ussher's Creek boat launch in a 5 metre, aluminum boat.
Baron, a friend of the boat owner, was considering buying the boat to use at his winter home in Florida so Terry and Bruno had taken the boat out that night to test it. When the pair did not return, they were reported missing.
On Friday, November 22, a cross-border search of dozens of volunteers, firefighters, military, and the Canadian and American Coast Guard, turned up a capsized boat, surrounded by gym bags stuffed with liquor and cigarette, near Dufferin Island.
Baron Sciortino's body was recovered metres away, near the brink of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. His name was not released to the public prior to the completion of an autopsy on Saturday, November 23.
An intense search continued for Terry until Sunday, November 24th. By then, rescue workers continued with periodic checks of the shoreline, but said Terry's chances of survival in the freezing waters were slim. Sergeant Rick Bereketa, a Niagara Regional Police detective said at the time, " All we can do is wait until the water gives up the body."
On November 26, 1996, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police took over the investigation into the boating accident from the Niagara Regional Police, due to the bags of liquor and cigarettes found. The Tribune reported that enquiries were expected to extend to New York State.
Terry Thomas Baxter was recently added to the Canada's Missing page. Not all missing persons in Canada are posted on this website. In fact, it is up to the lead investigator of each case to include to add a missing person to the website or not.
In regards to Terry's disappearance, police say "Terry Baxter was last seen on November 21, 1996 in a 14-foot boat in the upper Niagara River in Ontario. The boat has been recovered. However, we are still trying to establish Terry's whereabouts."
Terry lived at home with his parents in St. Catharine's and was a grade 10 student at St. Catharine's Collegiate. He was described as happy-go-lucky, smart, and always willing to help. He loved cycling, snowboarding, and was an excellent swimmer. When interviewed by a newspaper his mother recounted sadly that Terry never had the chance to name the calico kitten she had gotten him for his birthday. She said that Terry was always happy, did not have a temper, and worked on cars with his father every night. Terry planned to work as a mechanic, like his father.
At the time of his disappearance Terry was wearing a black toque, a light blue, nylon Starter jacket, blue jeans, and green hip waders.
If you have information on this case, please contact any of the following:
Niagara Regional Police Service 905-688-4111Reference Case#: 1996-126573
Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or online at https://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tipCrime Stoppers provides anonymous tipping
Send email to the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains at: canadasmissing-disparuscanada@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
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