DJ Pirie

Executive Summary

Donald James Pirie, known to family and friends as DJ Pirie, disappeared on January 30, 2024, from the Tilley area of New Brunswick, Canada. The 29-year-old Perth-Andover resident was last seen near Churchland Road and Lerwick Road in Tilley, approximately 18 kilometers north of his home community. Over one year later, Pirie remains missing, with the RCMP continuing to investigate his disappearance as a suspicious case. Police and family members continue to express concern for his well-being, yet despite ground searches, police dog services, and multiple public appeals, no trace of Pirie has been located.

Personal Identification

Identity and Aliases

Full Name: Donald James Pirie
Known As: DJ Pirie
Age at Disappearance: 29 years old
Date of Birth: Approximately 1995-1996
Hometown: Perth-Andover, New Brunswick

Physical Description

Height: 5'8" (178 centimeters)
Weight: 170 pounds (77 kilograms)
Build: Average build
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blond
Distinguishing Features:
- Scar in the middle of his head (prominent distinguishing feature)
- Angel tattoo on left upper arm
- Star tattoo on front of right shoulder
- Additional tattoos not fully described in public materials

Clothing at Last Sighting

Gold watch
Gold chain with cross pendant
Black shoes
Specific outerwear or additional clothing not documented in available public statements

Disappearance Details

Timeline and Last Sighting

January 29, 2024 (Evening) Donald Pirie was last reported seen on Skyline Drive in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. This location represents his last documented sighting in his hometown community.

January 30, 2024 (Night) Pirie was subsequently last seen near Churchland Road and Lerwick Road in Tilley, New Brunswick, a rural area approximately 18 kilometers north of Perth-Andover. This represents his final documented location. The specific time of this sighting was not disclosed in public RCMP statements.

Geographic Context

Tilley is a small, rural community in western New Brunswick located in the Perth-Andover region. The area where Pirie was last seen—near Churchland and Lerwick Roads—is characterized by wooded terrain and sparse population density. Currie Road, also in the Tilley vicinity, became the focus of increased police presence during early search operations.

Perth-Andover itself is a village in York County, located in the western River Valley region of New Brunswick, near the Quebec border. The community is known as a quiet, rural area with a tight-knit community structure.

Circumstances of Disappearance

The RCMP's official statements indicate that:

Pirie was reported missing to police and his family expressed concern for his well-being
Police conducted follow-up investigations on several leads but remained unsuccessful in locating him
No voluntary departure or elopement was indicated; the disappearance was classified as "suspicious"
No indication that Pirie intended to be away from his community or family
The circumstances surrounding why he was in the Tilley area on January 30 have not been publicly disclosed

Initial Response and Search Operations

February 14, 2024 The RCMP issued a statement indicating that residents near Tilley should expect increased police presence, including:

Police dog services
Ground search and rescue teams
Officers actively searching for Pirie in the Tilley area

The RCMP emphasized this increased presence was part of the ongoing search effort for Pirie and was unrelated to concurrent operations in Stanley, where a separate incident had resulted in shelter-in-place orders.

Official Investigation Status

Lead Agency

Perth-Andover RCMP Detachment Contact: 506-273-5000

Classification

Suspicious Disappearance - indicating that circumstances suggest foul play or involuntary disappearance rather than voluntary departure.

Investigation Developments

February-August 2024 The RCMP issued periodic public appeals for information, with updates in March and August 2024 indicating the investigation remained active but that no new substantial leads had emerged. Police publicly stated they had "followed up on several leads to try and locate him, but have so far been unsuccessful."

Six-Month Update (August 20, 2024) Nearly seven months after disappearance, the RCMP renewed its appeal to the public with no new information provided, indicating the investigation had reached a plateau in terms of actionable leads.

One-Year Anniversary (January 29-February 3, 2025) The RCMP renewed pleas for public assistance on the one-year anniversary of Pirie's disappearance. No breakthrough developments were announced, though continued investigation was indicated.

Current Status (as of January 29, 2026)

The case remains open with the Perth-Andover RCMP Detachment. No arrests have been announced, no suspects have been publicly named, and no remains have been discovered. The RCMP continues to ask for public information regarding Pirie's whereabouts.

Known Facts and Evidence

What Was Established

Employment/Activity Status: Not disclosed in public statements
Vehicle Information: Whether Pirie was operating a vehicle has not been clarified in public materials
Health Status: No medical conditions mentioned; described as healthy
Recent Behavior: No information about behavioral changes or concerning activities in weeks preceding disappearance
Relationships: Family members are in contact with police but have not made public statements to media
Financial Status: No information provided
Social Connections: Limited information about friends or acquaintances

Criminal History

Prior Charge Donald Pirie was charged with refusing a breathalyzer demand in connection with an incident that occurred prior to or near the time of his disappearance. A trial date was set for April 23, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in provincial court.

This charge raises questions about:

Whether Pirie was operating a vehicle on January 29-30, 2024
Whether the incident occurred in proximity to his disappearance
Whether his legal situation may have been a factor in his mindset at time of disappearance

The specific timing of this charge relative to the disappearance (January 30, 2024) has not been clarified in public documents.

Searches Conducted

Ground Search and Rescue: Teams deployed in Tilley area, particularly near Currie Road
Police Canine Unit: Deployed in search operations
Helicopter Search: Mentioned as part of general search protocol in similar NB cases, though not explicitly confirmed for Pirie case
Community Searches: No volunteer search efforts documented in public statements
Scope of Search: Geographic boundaries not disclosed

Outcome: No remains, no vehicle, no trace evidence has been publicly disclosed.

Community and Regional Context

Perth-Andover Region

Perth-Andover is a rural village community in York County, western New Brunswick. The region is characterized by:

Small population base (fewer than 1,000 residents)
Close community ties and strong social networks
Limited employment opportunities (primarily agricultural and resource-based)
Proximity to Quebec border (approximately 50 km)
Forested and rural terrain with limited urban infrastructure

Tilley Area

The Tilley area, where Pirie was last seen, is an even smaller rural community north of Perth-Andover. The region features:

Sparse population density
Forested and wooded terrain
Rural roads with limited traffic
Limited lighting and surveillance infrastructure
Geographic isolation

Regional Missing Persons Context

New Brunswick has several high-profile missing persons cases, many of which remain unsolved:

Martha Kelly (2012) - 73-year-old Perth-Andover resident who disappeared from Villa assisted living facility; missing 13+ years
Chris Metallic (2012) - 20-year-old Mount Allison student; missing 13+ years after leaving house party
Jami Springer (2016) - 27-year-old Moncton resident; missing 9+ years
David Alexander Mitchell (2024) - 48-year-old Whites Mountain resident; Major Crime Unit investigation
Teri-Lynn Wilson (2023) - 41-year-old Fredericton resident; believed to be foul play

The prevalence of unsolved missing persons cases in New Brunswick suggests either geographic and population challenges in investigations (rural areas, limited resources), possible criminal networks targeting vulnerable individuals, or environmental hazards (wooded areas, water bodies) causing accidental deaths.

Theories and Speculation

Available Information

RCMP Classification: Suspicious disappearance - indicating police suspect circumstances beyond voluntary departure

Family Concern: Both police and family expressed concern for Pirie's well-being, suggesting he would not voluntarily remain absent

Potential Hypotheses (Based on Circumstantial Information)

Hypothesis 1: Voluntary Departure with Changed Identity

Supporting Factors:

No remains found despite ground searches
No vehicle located (limiting investigators' trail)
Young male with legal troubles (breathalyzer charge pending)

Against This Hypothesis:

Family and police explicitly stated concern for well-being (suggests OOC)
Classification as "suspicious disappearance" indicates police assess likelihood of foul play
Young man without documented resources for extended absence
No history of previous departures mentioned

Assessment: Low to moderate probability

Hypothesis 2: Accidental Death/Exposure in Tilley Area

Supporting Factors:

Disappearance occurred in winter (January 30) in northern climate
Rural, forested terrain with water bodies where accidental drowning possible
Similar cases (Chris Metallic, 2012) involving cold weather and disorientation
No body recovered despite searches, but extensive forested area could conceal remains for extended period
Possible intoxication (breathalyzer charge context) leading to disorientation and exposure

Against This Hypothesis:

Initial ground and canine searches found no remains
No specific indication of intoxication on date of disappearance
RCMP classification as "suspicious" rather than "environmental accident"
Body degradation after one year would still likely be discovered in searches

Assessment: Moderate probability

Hypothesis 3: Criminal Predation / Foul Play

Supporting Factors:

RCMP classification as "suspicious disappearance"
Timing coinciding with legal troubles (breathalyzer charge)
Rural location with limited witnesses
Similar cases in region (David Mitchell, other NB cases)
Possible motivation for predator targeting young male
Absence of any communication from Pirie in 12+ months is inconsistent with voluntary departure

Against This Hypothesis:

No suspects named or identified
No apparent motive disclosed (no financial disputes, no relationship conflicts mentioned)
Geographic isolation could work against predator concealing remains long-term
Would require either organized crime connection or opportunistic killer with local knowledge

Assessment: Moderate to high probability

Hypothesis 4: Foul Play by Acquaintance or Person Known to Pirie

Supporting Factors:

Presence in rural Tilley area (18 km away) suggests purpose/meeting
Possible connection to breathalyzer incident or legal troubles
Rural location allows privacy for crime
Victim would likely trust person arranging meeting
Could explain why Pirie would travel from Perth-Andover to Tilley

Against This Hypothesis:

No persons of interest identified by RCMP despite 12+ month investigation
No apparent motive disclosed
Family relationships appear stable (family concern expressed)
Would require co-conspiracy or lone predator with local knowledge

Assessment: Moderate probability

Hypothesis 5: Hit-and-Run Vehicle Accident with Body Concealment

Supporting Factors:

Appears to involve vehicle (breathalyzer charge suggests driving context)
Rural road setting (Churchland/Lerwick Roads) involves vehicle traffic
Driver could have caused accidental death and fled scene
Explains one-year absence without communication
Similar to unsolved cases nationally

Against This Hypothesis:

No vehicle abandonment reported
Seems unlikely perpetrator could conceal remains for 12+ months without detection
Would require immediate cover-up and ongoing concealment
Rural area would show vehicle damage evidence

Assessment: Low to moderate probability

Unanswered Questions

Why was Pirie in Tilley? - His reason for being 18 km from his home community is not explained
Was he operating a vehicle? - Vehicle involvement not clarified; breathalyzer charge context suggests he was
Who was he meeting or visiting? - No information disclosed about his purpose
What is the exact timeline? - Distinction between Skyline Drive sighting (Jan. 29) and Tilley sighting (Jan. 30) not clearly explained
Has his vehicle been located? - Not mentioned in public statements
What do investigators suspect? - RCMP has not disclosed working theory or direction of investigation
Are there persons of interest? - No suspects or persons of interest publicly named
What does "suspicious disappearance" specifically mean? - RCMP classification suggests foul play but details not disclosed
Why have searches been discontinued? - Search intensity appears to have waned after initial months
What would investigators like public to know? - No specific information request (suspicious vehicle, unknown male, etc.) provided

Media and Online Discussion

News Coverage

The disappearance of DJ Pirie has received limited media attention:

Primary Coverage: Fredericton Independent (Substack publication) - published initial report, follow-ups, and anniversary updates
Social Media: RCMP New Brunswick Facebook page - periodic updates
National Databases: Case appears on canadasmissing.ca, missingnb.com, and missing persons registries
Community Forums: Reddit community r/MissingPersonsCanada has documented case with minimal discussion

Public Interest

Case has generated limited viral attention compared to other regional missing persons cases
No significant crowdfunding efforts documented
No large-scale volunteer search efforts publicized
No true crime media interest documented
Social media engagement appears minimal beyond RCMP official updates

Community Speculation

Limited public speculation documented online, likely due to:

Rural community nature (less online engagement)
Family privacy wishes (no public statements)
RCMP policy on investigation confidentiality
Small population base in Perth-Andover/Tilley

Online discussions on Reddit have been sparse, with community members noting case but without substantial theory development or organized investigation efforts.

Comparative Analysis: Similar Cases

New Brunswick Missing Persons Patterns

Chris Metallic (2012) - Similar case characteristics:

Young male (20 years old)
Missing from outdoor setting (left house party)
Winter timeframe (November)
Rural location (Sackville area)
13+ years missing with no remains recovered
Suspected accidental death in river/wilderness

David Alexander Mitchell (2024) - Recent case:

Middle-aged male from rural NB
Disappeared from residence
Initially missing persons, upgraded to Major Crime Unit investigation
Suggests RCMP sees criminal element

Martha Kelly (2012) - Perth-Andover area precedent:

Same community as Pirie
Disappeared during evening walk
Elderly, vulnerable person
13+ years unsolved
Suggests Perth-Andover has previous missing persons precedent

Information for Family and Friends

How to Help

Report Information to Police:

Perth-Andover RCMP: 506-273-5000
Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
Crime Stoppers P3 Mobile App (secure, anonymous)
Secure Web Tips: www.crimenb.ca

What Police Need:

Last confirmed sighting details (time, place, who saw him)
Vehicle information (if operating vehicle that day)
Names of persons he was meeting or visiting
Information about breathalyzer charge context (incident details)
Any unusual behavior or circumstances days before disappearance
Financial records or activity after disappearance
Cell phone records or communications
Witnesses to travel to Tilley area

Support Resources

Contact RCMP for victim services support
Local community organizations may provide support
Missing and Unsolved New Brunswick (missingnb.com) provides case documentation and support

Investigation Recommendations

For Law Enforcement

Vehicle Identification: Determine if Pirie was operating a vehicle; locate and examine it
Cell Phone Analysis: Review phone records, tower data, and location information for Jan. 29-30
Witness Interviews: Systematically interview anyone who saw Pirie or anyone matching his description in Tilley area
Breathalyzer Charge: Fully investigate incident context and connection to disappearance
Search Expansion: Consider expanded search area if new evidence suggests extended range
Digital Forensics: Review social media, messaging apps, financial accounts for activity after disappearance
Wildlife/Cadaver Dogs: Re-deploy searches if new information warrants it
Media Appeal: Request assistance from national missing persons media (podcasts, true crime shows)
Regional Cooperation: Coordinate with Quebec authorities given proximity to border
Case Review: Periodic case review to identify any missed investigative leads

For Community

Share information with neighbors and family
Report any suspicions or information, however minor it may seem
Respect family privacy while supporting investigation
Avoid speculation or vigilante theories that could hamper investigation
Maintain community presence and awareness of case

Conclusion

Donald James (DJ) Pirie has been missing for over one year (since January 30, 2024) from the Tilley area of New Brunswick. The circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear, and his location is unknown. The RCMP classification of the case as a "suspicious disappearance" suggests investigators believe circumstances beyond voluntary departure are responsible for his absence.

Despite ground searches, canine units, and multiple public appeals over 12+ months, no trace evidence, remains, or confirmed sightings have been reported. The case presents significant investigative challenges due to its rural location, limited witnesses, and lack of apparent motive or suspect identification.

The most likely scenarios include accidental death in the forested Tilley area during winter conditions, or criminal involvement by person(s) with local knowledge. However, without additional evidence or witness information, investigators remain without clear direction.

Family members and investigators continue to seek public assistance in locating DJ Pirie. Any information regarding his whereabouts or the circumstances of his disappearance should be reported immediately to the Perth-Andover RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

References and Sources

Royal Canadian Mounted Police, New Brunswick Division (RCMP NB)
Perth-Andover RCMP Detachment official statements
Fredericton Independent newspaper (Substack publication)
Canada's Missing Persons database (canadasmissing.ca)
Missing New Brunswick database (missingnb.com)
Crime Stoppers New Brunswick (crimenb.ca)
RCMP official Facebook page (@RCMPNB)
Reddit community r/MissingPersonsCanada
New Brunswick missing persons literature and case files

Report Compiled: January 29, 2026 Case Status: Active Investigation - Missing Since January 30, 2024 Time Missing: 12 months and ongoing

This report represents publicly available information as of January 29, 2026. For the most current information and to provide tips, please contact the Perth-Andover RCMP at 506-273-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).