Wife of missing Hamilton man pleads for his safe return

Timothy Bosma's wife is pleading for his safe return, urging the men involved in his disappearance to think of her daughter and their family. Bosma was reported missing in the Ancaster area on Monday after going for a ride with two Toronto men who said they wanted to buy his truck.

Thursday, Bosma's wife, Sharlene spoke a press conference.  "He is the love of my life and the father of my child. This does not feel like real life. This only happens in TV and in movies. It does not happen in real life."

Bosma called on the two men believed to have been involved in her husband's disappearance to return him home to her and their two-year-old daughter.

"Tim has been stolen from us. Tim's world revolves around our daughter. I know she is number one in his mind right now."

The last time she saw him was Monday evening.

"He smiled at me and said he would be right back. I have not seen him since," she said.

"It was just a truck, a stupid truck. You don't need him, but I do. Our daughter needs her daddy. Please let him come home."

Bosma thanked friends, family and strangers for their support during her husband's absence.

Hamilton police said Thursday they now have several leads that might help them find Bosma, according to Staff Sergeant Matt Kavanagh.

On Wednesday, police released descriptions of the two men that were last seen with Bosma.

"We have quite a lot of feedback from the public and from other police departments after putting that information out to the media," Kavanagh said.

Police did not provide sketches of the men along with the physical descriptions released Wednesday, but Kavanagh said they may do so if the current leads don't pan out.

"Once we've exhausted those, we might do a sketch, but there's some pretty good leads coming through."

The first man is described as white, six foot one inches to six foot two inches tall, about 180 lbs with light to medium short brown hair. He is unshaven and was wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve orange shirt and running shoes.

The other man is described as five foot nine inches to five foot 10 inches tall with a small to medium build, in his early to mid 20s. He has dark hair and was wearing a red hooded sweater with the hood up over his head. 

Ground search continues

Thursday morning, police continued their ground search in the rural area around Bosma's home where he was last seen but Kavanagh said that part of the investigation is almost complete.

On Wednesday, a marine unit, mounted unit and K9 unit were all canvassing the area. Thursday, a handful of officers remained on foot going door-to-door.

"I hope it's a big misunderstanding. Everyone is hoping this has a happy ending," said Hamilton police Sergeant Jay Turner, who was one of the officers canvassing the neighbourhood Thursday.

Bosma was reported missing near his home on Monday after two men arrived to take his truck, which he had posted for sale online, for a test drive. He was last seen with the two suspects in his 2007 black Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck with the licence plate number 726 7ZW.

Due to the unusual circumstances, the homicide unit was called in to investigate Tuesday night but the case remains a missing persons case and not a murder investigation, according to Kavanagh.

Bosma posted his truck for sale on Kijiji.ca and AutoTrader.ca on April 28, police said. He was contacted by a man on May 6 to arrange to see the vehicle. Bosma had included his cell phone number in the ad, so there are no e-mail correspondences for police to track. However, police had been tracking Bosma's cell phone, which was shut off after his disappearance.

Two men arrived at the house around 9:20 p.m. on Monday evening to check out the truck and Bosma told his wife Sharlene he was taking them for a test drive. When he did not return home, Sharlene contacted police.

Bosma was last seen wearing dark blue jeans, work boots and a long sleeve shirt.

Police are continuing to investigate, including launching a wide-spread ground search with K9 units, Ontario Provincial Police Officers and a search and rescue team in the rural area surrounding the family's Ancaster home where Bosma was last seen.

Bosma's truck description has been alerted to all police agencies and border agencies but they have had no information as of yet, Kavanagh said.

Police are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact Division Three at 905-546-4930 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.