Volunteer search party finds missing man dead in St. Catharines

What began as a community-led search to find a missing Indigenous man has ended with the discovery of a body inside a St. Catharines home, sparking outrage among the community.

While police have not identified the body, members of the group tell CHCH News it is 32-year-old Jonathan Cronkwright.

READ MORE: Police seek missing Indigenous man from St. Catharines

Cronkwright was first reported missing on Feb. 29.

Fred Bowering, one of the searchers who first reported the body, called the incident shocking.

“We were just like ‘call the police, call the police,’ because it was shocking and disturbing finding him laying up there like that,” he said.

Emergency crews were called out to a residence on Raymond Street around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, after receiving reports about the body.

“Cooperation with the police would be a really good thing because it could’ve been a different outcome if this place was searched by them in the beginning when this was all brought up.”

While on their way to the scene, a disturbance broke out between the civilian volunteer search party and residences inside the home, police say.

Additional officers were sent out to the Raymond Street home to “assist in stopping the disturbance,” and the scene has since been secured.

Investigators say they’re unable to identify the deceased at this time, nor can they speculate on their cause of death.

Anyone with additional information relating to the case is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option three, extension 1004233.