**** RCMP Media Release
Update on Kenley Matheson missing person investigation
The Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit is providing an update with regard to the Kenley Matheson missing person investigation.
Today, a team including, members of the Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit, the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office, St. Thomas University’s Anthropology Department, Acadia University’s Earth and Environmental Science Department and Doug Teeft of Teeft K9, conducted a site visit on Melanson Mountain. Based on the information obtained, the RCMP and our partners are making plans with regard to the best and most effective way to process the site both thoroughly, and safely.
Further details regarding findings and next steps will be shared once the site processing has occurred.
The RCMP has maintained regular contact with Kenley’s family and we would like to thank Kenley’s family for their continued support of the investigation.
Background:
Kenley Matheson was last seen walking on Main St. in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, on Monday, September 21, 1992. He was wearing blue jeans, a purple t-shirt and a ball cap. He was carrying a red and black backpack. There has been no contact with family members or friends and no activity on his bank account since.
In 2012, Kenley’s case was added to the Nova Scotia Department of Justice Reward for Major Unsolved Crimes Program which offers rewards of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the disappearance of Kenley.
In 2017, as part of the continuing RCMP investigation, RCMP investigators released an age progression sketch of what Kenley may look like in an effort to obtain new information that would assist with the investigation.
In September 2022, corresponding with a documentary about Kenley Matheson’s disappearance, the Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit made another public plea for information in the hopes of generating new tips to advance the investigation. Unfortunately, investigators did not receive any new information.
On May 29, 2023, Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime received a phone call from a journalist to schedule a meeting concerning information they had about the investigation. RCMP officers met with the journalist and learned that on May 23 and 24, 2023, a search, commissioned by the Globe & Mail, had taken place on Melanson Mountain. The search involved the use of a cadaver dog and its purpose was to try and locate human remains. The dog indicated an area of interest; however, no human remains were located.
On June 13, RCMP officers met with the cadaver dog team and attended the site on Melanson Mountain to learn more about the area that had been identified. RCMP officers noted that the area is on very steep terrain, and any search or excavation efforts would require safety precautions.
On June 16, RCMP officers engaged with the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office, in accordance with the Fatalities Act, and, requested assistance from the ME’s Office with regard to conducting a search at the site on Melanson Mountain.
On June 22, the lead investigator spoke with the property owner and obtained consent for the RCMP and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office to conduct a search on the property.
