Ontario's Missing Adults

ON-UM-1973-05-00145

Facial hair – reddish brown beard and moustache

Jacket – brown and white checkered
Footwear – ‘Chippewa’ bush boots with 1″ thick insoles, size 10

Headwear – green and brown checkered Fedora
Gloves – brown

Receipt – Kenricia Hotel
Wallet – brown leather
Currency – $176.00

Keys – 2 handcuff keys
Weaponry – rifle, revolver, and a bomb rigged with a dead man’s switch

This unidentified man died during the course of robbing the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce located on Main Street in Kenora.

At the time of the robbery he was armed with a bomb that had a ‘dead man’s switch’.  As he was attempting to escape after the robbery, he was shot by police.  This triggered the explosion of the bomb.

The subsequent investigation revealed that this gentleman checked into the Kenricia Hotel on April 23rd, 1973 and stayed until April 25th, 1973.  He registered as Paul HIGGINS and gave his address a 435 Glen Drive in Toronto.

Mr. Higgins checked out on April 25th but arranged to have his steamer trunk stored at the hotel.  He apparently took a bus to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

On May 5th, 1973, Mr. Higgins once again checked into the Kenricia Hotel.  He then robbed the bank five days later.

After his death, police searched his room.  At that time they recovered the steamer trunk and items that were disposed of by the Armed Forces Demolition Unit.  Also found in his room were cigars butts and cigar packages of Old Port, Dutch Prince and Teuros-Havanas brand cigars.

The name and address supplied when checking into the Kenricia were proven to be false.

Ontario Provincial Police
Additional Details and Contacts

National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains
Ontario Provincial Police