====== Michael Andrew Blakney ======
===== Case Introduction =====
     * Michael Andrew Blakney, a 43-year-old man from Moncton, New Brunswick, disappeared in early August 2010 and remains missing as of August 2025. His case represents one of the province's most intriguing missing person investigations, involving trail camera footage and anonymous tips that have yet to lead to his discovery.

===== Case Overview =====
     * Last Seen: Early August 2010, Moncton area
     * Age at Disappearance: 43 years old (born approximately 1967)
     * Investigation Status: Active, handled by Codiac Regional RCMP
     * Case Reference: Not publicly available

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==== Physical Description ====
     * Michael Andrew Blakney was described by police as having the following characteristics:
      * Height: 5 feet 1 inch
      * Weight: Approximately 150 pounds
      * Build: Average
      * Hair: Reddish brown or auburn colored
      * Eyes: Not specified in available records
      * Distinguishing Features: Walks with a limp, uses prescription glasses
      * Clothing: Often wore a baseball cap

===== Circumstances of Disappearance =====
     * Michael Blakney was last seen riding his bicycle in Moncton in early August 2010. According to family and friends, he was known to ride a distinctive one-speed bicycle everywhere and regularly traveled on trails to Sackville and Petitcodiac. His disappearance became a concern when he had not been seen for more than a month by September 2010.

===== The Trail Camera Evidence =====
     * The case took an unusual turn on September 20, 2010, when the Codiac Regional RCMP received an anonymous tip suggesting that hunters had been discussing images captured on a trail camera. According to the tipster, hunters were overheard talking about suspicious images showing:
      * A man wearing a baseball cap and carrying a backpack
      * The individual was pushing a pedal bicycle
      * The images were captured on a camera set up along woods road about three miles back of Scoudouc
     * Constable Chantal Farrah of the Codiac Regional RCMP stated: "The tip is vague but contained enough specific information that investigators want to speak directly with the tipster and if the information is factual, then directly to the hunters". Police noted that it was common practice for hunters to install cameras in areas they planned to hunt to capture footage of animals, lending credibility to the tip.

===== Investigation Challenges =====
     * The RCMP faced significant challenges in following up on this lead:
      * The anonymous tipster never came forward despite repeated public appeals
      * The hunters allegedly discussing the images were never identified
      * The precise location of the trail camera was never determined
      * No physical evidence from the camera was ever recovered
     * Police emphasized that they needed to speak directly with either the anonymous tipster or the hunters to obtain more precise location information and potentially view any captured images.

===== Family Background and Community Context =====
     * Michael Blakney was a familiar figure in the Moncton area, particularly known for his frequent bicycle travel on his distinctive single-speed bicycle. His regular routes included trails to nearby communities such as Sackville and Petitcodiac, making his bicycle travel patterns well-established among locals.
     * The Blakney family name has deep historical roots in New Brunswick. Records show the Blakeney family (with various spellings including Blakney) has a long history in the province dating back to Loyalist settlers. Chambers Blakeney and his son David were residents of South Carolina who arrived in New Brunswick as Loyalists in the 1780s. David Blakeney received a Crown grant of 793 acres on the north bank of the Petitcodiac River in Salisbury Parish in 1787. The family name appears in various New Brunswick records throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

===== Contemporary Missing Persons Context =====
     * Michael Blakney's disappearance occurred during a period when New Brunswick was dealing with several challenging missing persons cases. His case is documented alongside other unsolved disappearances in the province, including historical cases like Edmond Belliveau Jr. (1985) and more recent disappearances.
     * New Brunswick has experienced numerous unsolved missing persons cases over the decades, with various law enforcement agencies maintaining active investigations. The province's rural geography, extensive trail systems, and wooded areas present unique challenges for search and rescue operations, as evidenced in Blakney's case where the potential trail camera evidence was located in remote wooded areas near Scoudouc.

===== Investigative Resources and Public Appeals =====
     * The Codiac Regional RCMP made extensive public appeals through various channels:
      * Media releases distributed to regional news outlets
      * Crime Stoppers appeals (1-800-222-TIPS)
      * Community forums and online discussion groups
      * Social media campaigns in later years
     * The case has been featured on various missing persons databases and community awareness platforms, including regional hunting and outdoor recreation forums where members discussed the potential trail camera connection.

===== Current Status and Ongoing Investigation =====
     * As of August 2025, Michael Andrew Blakney's disappearance remains an active missing person case with the Codiac Regional RCMP. Nearly 15 years have passed since his disappearance, making it one of the longer-standing unsolved cases in the Moncton area.
     * The case represents several investigative challenges common to missing persons cases:
      * Limited physical evidence beyond the unverified trail camera tip
      * Rural search areas with extensive wooded terrain
      * Anonymous tips that cannot be fully verified or followed up
      * Time degradation of potential evidence and witness memories

===== Technological and Investigative Evolution =====
     * Since Blakney's 2010 disappearance, significant advances have been made in:
      * Trail camera technology and data recovery techniques
      * Digital forensics capabilities for analyzing electronic evidence
      * Search and rescue coordination between agencies
      * Public awareness campaigns through social media platforms
     * These technological advances offer hope that renewed attention to the case might yield new leads or enable better analysis of any evidence that may still exist.

===== Regional Impact and Community Awareness =====
     * Michael Blakney's case has had a lasting impact on the Moncton-area community, particularly among outdoor enthusiasts and those familiar with local trail systems. The unusual circumstances involving potential trail camera evidence has made the case memorable and frequently discussed in regional forums devoted to outdoor activities.
     * The case also highlights the importance of hunter cooperation with law enforcement, as the potential breakthrough evidence remains locked away due to the failure of the anonymous tipster and alleged hunters to come forward.

===== Conclusion =====
     * The disappearance of Michael Andrew Blakney remains one of New Brunswick's most perplexing missing persons cases. The tantalizing possibility that trail camera footage may have captured images of him near the time of his disappearance adds a unique element to the investigation, but the inability to locate this potential evidence has proven frustrating for investigators and family members alike.
     * Nearly 15 years after his disappearance, the case serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in missing persons investigations, particularly in rural areas with extensive wilderness. The distinctive nature of Blakney's regular bicycle travel patterns and his recognizable appearance suggested that someone in the community should have information about his whereabouts, yet no definitive leads have emerged.
     * The case remains active, and the Codiac Regional RCMP continues to encourage anyone with information, particularly the anonymous tipster from 2010 or the hunters allegedly discussing trail camera images, to come forward. Even seemingly minor details could prove crucial in resolving this long-standing mystery and providing answers to Michael Blakney's family and friends.
     * Anyone with information about Michael Andrew Blakney's disappearance is encouraged to contact:
      * Codiac Regional RCMP: 857-2400
      * Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) 
      * New Brunswick Crime Stoppers: Tips can be submitted online at crimenb.ca