Organizers cancel independent search for Eli Wood in Kitchener

Eli Wood, 25, in undated photos. (Source: Waterloo Regional Police)

A planned search for Eli Wood has been called off.

The 25-year-old went missing more than six weeks ago, around the same time a fire broke out at their Kitchener home on Oct. 19. According to Waterloo Regional Police, the cause of the fire was arson and Wood’s disappearance is considered suspicious.

No new details have been shared about the investigation, including why foul play is believed to be involved.

That frustrated some concerned community members and one social media group decided to organize their own ground search, independent of the ongoing police investigation.

Two days before it was set to happen, however, the search was cancelled.

A post from a group called Response Tactics International, said they had “searched an unidentified area of interest in hopes of locating Eli Wood, or anything related to his disappearance prior to the snowfall and returned again Thursday, Dec. 4 to view the areas now that it has snowed.”

They did not say why it was considered an “area of interest.”

“This decision was based primarily on [the] safety of searchers and the unlikelihood of being able to see anything due to the extent of the snowfall,” the post continued. “Most areas are reduced to single file paths, some of which are very slippery. The snowfall has made tree deadfall invisible in areas that could have been searched in a much more safe [manner] prior to the current accumulation.”

Organizers also said a canine search “under current conditions would be unlikely to be successful and hazardous to searchers partaking in the effort,” based on feedback from professionals.

They ended the post by reiterating their promise to help bring Wood home.

“The organizers are not turning their back on Eli, his family or friends.”

On Thursday, police took the unusual step of responding to the online speculation surrounding the case.

“We want to assure the public that this is a very active and ongoing investigation, and our family liaison officer is in daily contact with Eli’s family to provide updates,” they said in a news release. “When it is appropriate and responsible to do so, additional details and updates will be released publicly.”

They then urged people not to “rely on unverified information circulating on social media, as it may be inaccurate and could hinder the investigation.”

A message was also shared on behalf of Wood’s family.

“We kindly ask everyone in the community to please avoid posting, sharing or relying on unverified information on social media,” they wrote. “Inaccurate information and speculation can cause confusion and stress for our family and can interfere with the ongoing police investigation.”