Family of missing Cape Breton man hopeful their search is over

After almost a year of combing through a vast area of Cape Breton Regional Municipality, the family of Justin MacDonald is optimistic that the search for the 34-year-old man may finally be coming to a close. MacDonald has been missing since July 2024, and authorities are treating his case as a homicide, with three individuals facing charges in connection with his disappearance.

The family has been present at the site of a police investigation along a rural stretch of Morley Road since Monday, when potential human remains were discovered. MacDonald’s uncle, Gordon MacDonald, expressed the family’s anticipation for the identification of the remains, stating, “With this find, we’re just hoping. We can’t say anything definitive because of the forensic situation, but we’re hopeful that it may be him.”

Ken MacDonald, Justin’s father, has been tirelessly searching for his son since his disappearance, utilizing social media to appeal to the public for any information that could lead to answers. The family refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation, opting to wait for official confirmation that Justin has been located.

Law enforcement officials have refrained from providing details on the case until the identity of the remains can be confirmed. Gordon MacDonald described the months following his nephew’s disappearance as a never-ending “horror show,” emphasizing the emotional toll it has taken on the family. He expressed the family’s need for closure, stating, “That’s absolutely a necessity for the family, to be able to bring Justin home and take him to where he belongs and put him to rest.”

Authorities have urged the public to avoid the investigation site, with drones observed in the air and a search underway in the nearby woods cordoned off with yellow police tape. Earlier this year, investigators expanded their search efforts from North Sydney to Irish Vale, N.S., in the quest for clues related to Justin MacDonald’s whereabouts.

Justin MacDonald was last seen on July 7, 2024, at an Irving gas station in North Sydney, captured on the store’s security camera. His vehicle was subsequently located approximately 25 kilometers away in the Ormond Crescent area of Mira Road. In December, Mitchell George McPhee, 38, was charged with manslaughter in connection with MacDonald’s disappearance, along with robbery and assault charges involving another individual.

Following McPhee’s arrest, Ryan Joseph Pike, 36, was charged with second-degree murder and robbery, while Aaron Curtis Mickey, 45, faced charges of second-degree murder, robbery, and firearm-related offenses on Dec. 31. The legal proceedings have been described as “excruciatingly painful” for the MacDonald family by Gordon MacDonald, highlighting the emotional toll of the court process.