Still no leads one month after Eli Wood’s disappearance

Police are still searching for Eli Wood, who went missing after a fire in Kitchener. CTV’s Hannah Schmidt finds out why they now suspect foul play.

Waterloo Regional Police continue to investigate the disappearance of Eli Wood, who has not been seen since a fire tore through their Kitchener home one month ago.

Wood lived in the back unit of a house on Major Street. On the morning of Oct. 19, firefighters were called to put out flames at the property. Police announced a few days later that it was considered an arson investigation. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Police also asked the public to help find Wood who was initially described as a missing person.

Wood was described as approximately 4′10″ in height, weighing between 85 and 95 pounds, with green eyes, eyebrows that were partially white, and tattoos of a flower and seahorse on the left forearm and a rainbow on the right upper arm.

There was another public appeal on Nov. 4 where Waterloo Regional Police called Wood’s disappearance suspicious.

“Investigators have obtained enough information and enough grounds to determine that there was foul play involved in the disappearance of Eli,” Const. Chris Iden told CTV News at the time. “Just to maintain the respect and the integrity of the investigation, we’re unable to really explain or disclose any of that information.”

Since then, no further information has been shared about the case.

Family, friends plead for answers

Hope for Wood’s safe return home and support for their family continues to pour in online.

On Wednesday, Wood’s mother posted to Facebook, “It’s been a month, and now’s the perfect time for us to come together and make our voices heard. Let’s rally together and share this post to help bring Eli home.”

In another post she wrote, “Please everyone make sure your post is shared to public, not just friends, that way it can reach everywhere. Four weeks since I heard from my baby… please everyone I need to find my geeky and I need your help. Please share, share, share.”

On local public Facebook groups, commenters showed their support for Wood’s family.

One read, “Someone knows something. I hope they are found safe. I hope they are ok and well in the time being. I cannot imagine being in the family’s position. Thoughts and prayers going out to them.”

Another poster wrote, “Come on man the technology we have now and all the cameras everybody’s using, and nobody knows nothing. This is crazy. We have more technology now than we did back then. Doesn’t make any sense. Please find out what happened to this poor child.”

The Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate the fire and Wood’s disappearance. Anyone with information that can help with the investigation is asked to contact Waterloo Regional Police or Crime Stoppers.