It has been more than ten years since the mysterious deaths of Matthew Fairman and Tyler Maracle.
On April 26, 2015, Tyler Maracle (21) and friend Matthew Fairman (26) launched their fishing boat from a Bayshore Road launch onto the Bay of Quinte.
They went out spear fishing around 1:00 a.m. for pickerel.
Maracle and Fairman never returned.
For two weeks, the OPP Marine Unit searched the waters of the Bay of Quinte near the Skyway Bridge (Highway 49).
Tyendinaga police, community members and other agencies assisted in the search.
About two weeks later boaters discovered the young men’s bodies.
Tyler’s mother Tammy Maracle says the Coroner’s Office and police ruled the deaths as drowning.
“Prior to that there was nets (fishing) being stolen out there (Bay of Quinte) and cut up. My boy (Tyler) and Robin, his dad, had put out some nets and when they went out to get them they were taken. We know exactly who that was.”
The boat of Tyler Maracle and Matthew Fairman at the bottom of the Bay of Quinte (Photo: APTN)
Quinte News has not received a name as to whom Maracle is referring.
In the last decade there has not been evidence released publicly that connects Fairman or Maracle to stealing fish or fishing nets.
CLICK HERE for an extensive sit down Quinte News did with the family in September of 2020.
Tammy Maracle believed there was foul play and that belief has only grown.
UPDATE
Over the last two years, APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) has been investigating the deaths and in the creation of a four-part documentary, have brought to life enough evidence that Toronto Homicide has once again reopened the case.
A regional coroner changed the cause of death from accidental drowning to undetermined.
Maracle says the change means that people are now listening.
“Finally, finally. You don’t even know how many nights we went to bed, me and my husband, and nobody’s helping us. We’ve lost our son, we’re grieving. Imagine losing your son and then nobody wants to listen to you but you know he didn’t drown out there.”
Maracle says they were last in contact with officers in Toronto a few weeks ago, but there had been no new update.
We are staying in contact with the family and have contacted Toronto police.
We received the following response.
“This investigation is being led by the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit – Cold Case section, at the request of the OPP. No further details will be provided while the investigation is ongoing.”
