Calgary police say a 65-year-old man who went missing from Forest Lawn in January 2023 is now considered to be the victim of homicide.
Robert Stanley Mainland was reported missing from Forest Lawn in January 2023.
Also known as Bobby or Bubbles, the senior was last seen near a 7-Eleven convenience store on 17 Avenue SE.
Mainland was a well-known member of the Forest Lawn community and had lived in the area for over 40 years prior to his disappearance.
Staff Sgt. Mark Rahn of the CPS Homicide Unit says early on in the investigation, there were extensive searches in and around where he was last seen, as well as outside the city.
“He was very well-liked in his community of Forest Lawn and I know the community was shocked with regards to his disappearance,” Rahn added. “It’s our belief that there are people in the community who may have direct knowledge of his disappearance and we would ask that they come forward with that information to help us resolve and bring some closure to the family.
“We are continuing to investigate every lead we have in relation to this and this will not stop until we find out what happened.
Police say human remains were discovered at an undisclosed location outside of Calgary in May 2024.
Due to the state of the remains, investigators say it took several months to positively identify the remains as Mainland.
Following an investigation, police believe the man was a victim of foul play and his death is now considered a homicide.
“Robert’s family have been without answers for more than two years,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Rahn of the CPS Homicide Unit. “Even the smallest piece of information can be the detail we need to solve the case.”
Anyone with information about Mainland’s death or the events leading up to his disappearance is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or tip anonymously through CrimeStoppers.