LENNOXVILLE, Que. - The hunt for a missing Sherbrooke, Que. man will continue on Christmas Day after police spent Thursday unsuccessfully searching a river 25 kilometres from where he was last seen.
Volunteers, emergency workers and Quebec provincial police divers began searching the shores and waters of the St-Francois River, near Lennoxville, Que., around 8 a.m. Thursday morning for any trace of Jesse Buzzell.
The search ended when darkness fell before 4 p.m.
The 22-year-old was last seen in Cookshire-Eaton, Que., about 30 kilometres east of Sherbrooke, around 10 p.m. Monday.
He was reported missing more than 24 hours later.
He had been heading home in a car with three other people when there was an argument, said Officer Joyce Kemp.
"Mr. Buzzell would have stepped out of the car to continue walking toward Sherbrooke and that's the last time he was seen," she said.
Buzzell, who is the father of a newborn baby, was coming home from an evening with his extended family.
After police were told Buzzell was missing, they sent out searchers with dogs and snow mobiles as well as members of the emergency unit.
They also traced activity from the web browser of Buzzell's mobile phone about 30 minutes after he got out of the car but were unable to trace him through the GPS system integrated into his phone. Police think the phone is turned off or its battery died.
Police later narrowed the search down to the river based on information received from the public.
"We have reason to believe he could be there," Kemp said, but had no further details about what led searchers to the area.
She couldn't confirm media reports reporting footsteps had been seen in the snow.
Nighttime temperatures in Quebec's eastern townships dropped to -11.5 C on Dec. 21.
Police are asking the public for any information they may have about the missing man, even as the divers continue their search.
Buzzell is described as 5 foot 9, 150 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He speaks English.