What happened the night two Mohawk fishermen mysteriously disappeared? APTN Investigates

“I think somebody killed them. I believe somebody killed them 100 per cent. I believe that that’s what happened,” said Beverly Maracle in an interview in the upcoming Secrets of the Bay.

Maracle is the mother of Matthew Fairman. On April 16, 2015, her son and his friend Tyler Maracle, 26, and 21 respectively, set out to go spear fishing at 1:30 a.m. At 3:09 a.m. both of their cell phones stopped communicating with the neighbouring cell tower.

A two-part series airing on APTN Oct. 6 and Oct. 13 about the case is part of the new season of APTN Investigates.

Award-winning investigative reporter Kenneth Jackson delves into the story about the mysterious disappearance of the two young Mohawk fishermen on the Bay of Quinte.

That time of year is spawning season for pickerel and other fish in the local waterway. People from the community go out at night and, typically, set up a spotlight to reflect on the fish and spear them.

“They went out one night to go spearing, two buddies, and they never returned,” said Jackson. The two were reported missing the next day.

“After meeting with Tyler and Matthew’s family members, and with other community members, there are obvious gaps in the story as to what happened on the night of April 26, 2015,” said APTN Investigates producer Cullen Crozier in a press release.

“Based on the information we’ve gathered, and from the interviews we’ve conducted with people close to the case, it is obvious that the details in the police investigation and coroner’s report aren’t adding up.”

Jackson said that back in 2018, three years after the two men had been found and determined to have died by drowning, the families had reached out asking him to look into the case.

At the time he was working on an extensive project and couldn’t devote the time the story required. However, in June this year he reached out to the families and was ready to look at the case.

“In July I started to collect documents and interview people and try and get to the bottom of what happened to these boys,” Jackson said.

While developing the story, Jackson builds a timeline taking viewers from point A to point B focusing on the police investigation.

“Because the police investigation is undeniably full of holes, gaps, mistakes were made, things weren’t done, which is why (the case) was reopened in 2021,” Jackson said.

With his extensive investigating skills, Jackson said he was able to uncover inconsistencies immediately.

“Years after these boys drown, I was on the ground for a day and I found out something that police didn’t find out and didn’t know about,” said Jackson, adding this breakthrough will be included in the second part of the series.

“But that alone tells you if I’m, if you know the reporter is able to come along eight years later (and) in day one finding information that’s pretty important. It tells you a lot about how police have investigated this over the years.”

In the original files, Jackson said he discovered how 13 days after the two went missing they were found in the water in a very popular fishing area.

“But, the thing about that is that four days after they went missing the police told the family they’re not in the water,” Jackson said, adding how dive crews with specialized equipment had searched the area.

“And then… on day 13 they were right where they searched, where the police searched.”

This created a lot of doubt about how they died for the families and the community, Jackson explained.

“There’s no question that they drowned, which is the cause of death, but the manner of death, as in how they drowned, it’s up for debate.

“You can’t say it was an accident like it was originally ruled. I don’t believe there’s enough evidence to suggest that, there’s no direct evidence of foul play either, but there’s a lot of suspicious, crazy things that happened … That’s kind of what we look at.”

Jackson hopes that the series will “set the record straight” in a way that helps the families and community differentiate the facts from the rumors that swirl around the case.

“What I’ll do is, I’ll look at all the facts and separate the rumors from those facts and present a story that is right down the line with facts,” he said. “And, so, for once and for all—‘cause trust me as you can imagine when I started to look into this I’m hearing a thousand different things, a thousand different ways.”

One of the main reasons Jackson embarked on this investigation was the desire to create clarity for the families and he hopes that putting the story back into the spotlight may help bring closure for them through new evidence.

“The mothers of these boys, they’re in a never-ending loop of trauma. It never ends. It’s around, and around, and around, and around. There’s no end. It’s like an infinity,” he said.

“If there is someone out there who knows something, look at the moms. Look what they say. Watch how they talk. Look at the pain they’re in. They believe someone killed their boys. I’m not saying that, but I’m saying that they believe it, and so if someone does know something, just look at them…

“If someone can fix that for them, at least give them some closure. I hope they do.”

“Matty and Ty deserve justice,” said Beverly Maracle, “…and there’s no way they will be at peace until they do.”

For more information on this series visit aptnnews.ca/ourstories/secretsofthebay.

Local Journalism Initiative Reporters are supported by a financial contribution made by the Government of Canada.