When I first took on the Justin Pollari case in March of this year, I described it as one of the most preventably unsolved cases I had encountered. A 14-year-old classified as a runaway on the basis of a single family account. Friends who tried to give police information and were dismissed. A basement with a dirt floor that became cement in the weeks after his disappearance.
I published a full investigative article here in April. Since then, a lot has happened.
The media response
After SooToday and Village Report picked up the story, tips began arriving. I want to be careful about what I say publicly here because a formal OPP submission is being prepared and I do not want to compromise that process. But I can tell you that several of the tips received since the story went public have directly corroborated information I had gathered through independent research and through witness contact earlier in the investigation. Some have added new details I did not previously have.
The picture of what happened on St. Joseph Island on December 7, 2001 is substantially clearer than it was when I started this file.
What is confirmed:
Justin was not a runaway. Eyewitnesses who were with him on the night of his disappearance have provided accounts that have never been part of any formal investigation. His confirmed last location has been established through independent witness corroboration. The formal OPP submission is being prepared and will include witness statements, documented evidence, and specific investigative recommendations regarding locations that were never searched.
What I still need:
To complete this investigation properly — to travel to St. Joseph Island, conduct in-person witness interviews, pursue the forensic leads, and prepare a submission that the OPP cannot easily set aside — I need continued funding.
Justin's mother, Lori Smith, has directed all GoFundMe contributions directly to the investigation. We are currently at 14% of our goal. The goal covers travel, witness interview documentation, legal consultation, and the costs of a professional submission package.
If you have been following this investigation and believe — as I do — that Justin Pollari's case deserves the kind of attention it was denied in 2001, please consider contributing or sharing.
GoFundMe: gofund.me/45a908adb
If you have information: jaynicoll@protonmail.com | 289-923-7302
Anonymous tips: Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
OPP reference: RM01176313
Justin would be 39 years old today. His mother has never stopped looking. Neither will I.
— Jay Nicoll, Nicoll Investigations
","author_name":"Jay Nicoll"}