Sudbury, Ont., Coun. Michael Vagnini found dead near a seasonal residence in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek
A Sudbury, Ont., councillor who went missing on Jan. 27 was found dead near a seasonal cottage in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, west of the city, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) Det. Staff Sgt. Barry Ornella, the lead investigator on the case, says a resident of the Panache Lake area located Michael Vagnini's black 2021 Ram 1500 truck on his property and called authorities shortly before 2:30 pm.
He says that, based on the preliminary investigation, there is nothing to suggest foul play.
It is unclear how long Vagnini was deceased before being found. The coroner's office will now conduct an investigation to learn more about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Ornella says the property in question was not known to police as an area Vagnini was familiar with. "We continue to explore whether or not there is a connection to this property for Vagnini," he said.
Council begins grieving the loss of their colleague
The news of Vagnini's death broke shortly after city council began one of its regular bi-monthly meetings on Tuesday.
"We are all very saddened by this tragic news, which is why I felt it was so important to take a moment this evening to come together and beginning the process of grieving the loss of our colleague after more than two weeks of uncertainty," said Mayor Paul Lefebvre shortly after calling the meeting to order.
"He was a very generous man. One whose passion for his community was visible in everything he did," he added. "[He]'ll be greatly missed by many."
Council then adjourned Tuesday's meeting, "out of respect for Vagnini and his family," said Lefebvre.
Councillor first elected in 2014
Vagnini was elected in 2014, one of 10 new faces on city council .
He was unopposed in his re-election bid in 2018 and won 60 per cent of the vote in the 2022 election.
Last week, a public vigil was held for Vagnini, who was last spotted near McCharles Lake, at the city's western edge.
The day he disappeared, he was at a public morning event near Bell Park.
Ornella previously told CBC News that an attendee at the event was concerned for Vagnini and followed him after it ended to make sure he was OK.
"A concerned citizen had noticed that he didn't look to be in the best of health and that person took it upon themselves to follow Mr. Vagnini's vehicle to make sure that he got to his destination safely," Ornella said.
The individual stopped following Vagnini when he turned onto McCharles Lake Road.
Because Vagnini was not driving erratically, Ornella said the individual felt satisfied the councillor would arrive at his destination safely.
But Vagnini's family alerted police later that evening that he never made it home.
