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Watch Full Documentary Broadcast Date: Friday, December 3, 2010 Download Flash Player to view this content. Presumed Dead
How long does hope last? Presumed Dead tells the extraordinary stories of three ordinary Canadians who disappeared without a trace. It was supposed to be a romantic getaway, but Mark Comey and his wife Robyn's Mexican holiday turned to tragedy and mystery. One evening Mark headed down to the beach and just never came back. Was it death or deceit? Former Canadian Football League star Al Brenner vanished more than three decades ago. While police at the time suspected foul play, his family has always believed Brenner might have escaped into another life. The manhunt for missing 14-year-old Julie Bureau made headlines in Quebec for weeks before her trail went cold. For three years her grieving parents wondered what happened. Finding out the truth about Julie would be harder than losing her. |
 Connect with the fifth estate
 Linden MacIntyre takes a closer look at the case of Ludmila Ilina and the Osgoode Hall team tackling her case in an engrossing examination of how evidence can be used to both convict and acquit.
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 Were they murdered? Abducted? Or are they living new lives? Reporters Linden MacIntyre, Hana Gartner and Gillian Findlay track the trails of three Canadians who disappeared without a trace.
 Will one young man's courageous decision to come out affect a sport that is so secretive about sexuality.
 More than a decade after the murder of Fatima Kama, a suspect is finally arrested. But is the case really closed?
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reveals exclusive video footage Corrections Canada didn't want Canadians
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 Inside the interrogation of Russell Williams. On a commercial-free special edition, Bob McKeown decodes one of the most shocking confessions ever seen by Canadians, with the help of those who know the art of interrogation best.
 Why did the Canadian government, in the era of the Cold War, approve a plan to round up thousands of law-abiding citizens and lock them away because they were perceived to be a threat to democracy? Linden MacIntyre investigates the secret plan.
 Why did Mark Harshbarger end up dead on a family hunting trip to Newfoundland?
 Linden MacIntyre's personal essay on how the cycle of sexual abuse that plagued small communities in Nova Scotia years ago continues to haunt them today -- in new and unexpected ways.
 The shocking case of Colonel Russell Williams. This unbelievable story
has captured the country's attention, leaving people to wonder: What
really happened? Who is the man behind the headlines?
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One day has the answer to this redicule.... i strongly believe no matter how long but one day has the answer to this, their how and where about will be known, even as no one know how come.
I am sorry to hear that your brother is missing. If you send me the information I will post it on my blog that has a list of the missing people of BC. If you have a picture that would be very helpful.
I am sorry that your brother is missing and know the heartache of a missing loved one. My son Michael has been missing since 2006 from Kelowna BC.
Here is a link to my blog.
http://wenswritings.wordpress.com/I do get quite a few hits everyday and all it takes is one person to remember something and you may get a answer to your brothers dissapearance.
the fifth estate should do a documentary about unsolved murders regarding prostitutes which seems to involve serial killers, during the 1990s over 5 prostitutes were killer in the Regent Park Area some were stabbed and some were shot their was a double execution in a Toronto Housing Complex and the case is still unsolved
I watched the "Presumed Dead" episode and it was very disturbing. All I can think is how come Julie Bureau was soooo determined to run away and stay away? As well, she will now never know what a "normal" romantic relationship with a man is supposed to be like. I also kept thinking about all the women who go missing and are never found. I wish CBC would do a story on Lois Hanna from the Lucknow area..she went missing in the 80's...and I don't think she was ever found. The other story that had a profound impact on me was that of poor Lynda Shaw....her body was apparently found and 1 man has been deemed guilty however I read there may have been a second person involved. Should this not be revisited???? I want to thank CBC for broadcasting these stories....it is important that we don't forget about these missing people or their families!
Hi!
I agreed with Jennifer after watching the segment on Mark (from Canadian disappearances). I felt there was more to tell and other areas not touched such as his family's reaction to the whole situation. I too, am intersted in any updated information.
Thank you
I wish the story would have included more information about possible head injuries and concussions suffered during the course of his football career.
cf: http://www.npr.org/2011/01/20/133053436/brain-injuries-haunt-football-players-years-later
That may explain more about his decisions than anything else. My heart goes out to his family.
Bob's comments are pointless. How do they relate to why Brenner abandoned his family? So Brenner was arrogant, which is obvious by his lack of regard to his wife's predicament when he left. I think Brenner is a man-child, someone who didn't grow-up.
What a selfish thing to do to your family. The poor wife trying to provide for the children he abandonned. Maybe he does have brain damage from playing football. No other excuse will do. That family must have gone through hell only because he deicded to just leave without a word. I don't really feel much compassion for Brenner. It is his wife and kids I feel for. He just looks like he had a gambling and drinking problem and chose a coward's way out.
I thankyou for airing the storie of Julie as it has helped me come to grips with my separation with my wife and children as this could have been the storie of my daughter.Fortunatly my daughter spoke to her Mom of her feelings before running away and Mom made the right choice in our separateing verses our daughter making the drastic mistake with her life.Dean
Let bygones be bygones
I'm a 31 year old been in the gang all my life n now I'm disable n want to tell all people n kids that gangs life don't pay n stay away from them if u want to know more u can email or call me at 7788624333 thank you
I just watched your segment entitled Presumed Dead and was truely intrigued. It's always amazed me how people could vanish like they do and for so long without anyone knowing their whereabouts only to surface years later. For the family of those that never get back their family member due to possible foul play my heart goes out to them.
That being said and I really think it would be a good story. We here in Brantford have had a cold case of a missing woman named (please don't quote me on all the information I'm about to give you. It was so long ago) Mary Hammond.
It was either in the wee hours of the morning while she was going to work or returning home from her work at a local bakery (Bun Master) that she vanished off the face of the earth.
After watching your show, her name and that time in history all came back to me. Through the years (and I'm sure I'm not the only Brantfordian who thinks about that incident from time to time) often wonder whatever happened to her? Has there been any new developments in the case?
IT just doesn't make sense. I can't believe that someone could just fall off the face of the earth like that and no one knowing their whereabouts? I repeat, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
That's my two cents for what it's worth.
John Centorrino
P.S. Keep up the good work. I've always loved your show
my brother robbie furgiuele went missing in Sqamish bc in the mid nineties,he had a girlfriend named Lori at the time and they lived on a reserve.If anyone has info plse contact me at mara mcleod@yahoo.ca thankyou
I would like to know why none of Mark's other family was interviewed or questioned besides his wife?
Saw the story about Al Brenner.My thoughts about this sad story are directed to the sport of football. The incidence of head injuries, in particular, concussions, has finally caught the attention of the coaches and the doctors. The Daily Planet produced a short article on TE .
Love your shows - I wish that more of the episodes could be streamed outside Canada. Hope you'll consider making that possible if there aren't legal issues involved. Thanks from Alabama!
I knew mark! He ran a card shop in edmonton! I went there every week and talked to mark! He was my friend :(
Eleanor, I think you are absolutely correct. I hope everyone reads your comment and understands how fragile the human psyche is. She was a troubled teen--who knows why?--Maybe, even without the trauma, she would have developed similarly in character. But we have no other Julie from this other path to compare her with. I can't help but feel her immature unintegrated rebel ego state, who was, in its own way, trying to help her psyche survive, became her full personality after the trauma of rape and thinking she was going to die. Because of this, she got stuck in this age and an adult rational ego state, able to resolve the imbalance (conflict) between child rebel and critical parent, never formed. Now she is a total rebel with no adult personality. She is in chaos internally and will undoubtedly meet a tragic end sooner or later. Being stuck in the fear of this immature personality, she will continue making unhealthy choices unless somehow she hits a bottom, like a nervous breakdown and/or is incarcerated, and submits to getting proper therapy. Hers is a very difficult case.
I agree. I recently started watching your show on television and online. I felt that the two first stories were not developed enough, especially the story about Mark Comey. As a viewer I felt that a conclusion had been drawn from the "getgo" without presenting the viewer with any evidence or facts supporting the conclusion. If the story is based on hypothetysis then surely one should explore more than one? The insurance policy is rather suspicious but I would have want to learn more about details relating to the investigation that was made (i.e. what kind of efforts have been made to match recovered bodies in Mexico, yes people do dissapear in Mexico, possible abduction scenario, what happen to Mark Comey's passport, interview with the person who sold the insurance policy to Mark, reasons why the person at the resort said it was surely a scam.. etc..) Im not happy with the evidence and facts presented to the viewer on this investigative report.. Would love an update...
You cannot trust anyone or any element of our structured society. With the ongoing corrution
exposed over the past 25 years.
My own personal experiences with government agencies and their ability to procrastinate,
pass the buck and get away with doing absolutely
nothing astound me.
This all came to light during the "Mount Cashel
Abuse of Innocent Children Episode".
Imagine the authority of the day looking out for the interest of criminal activity in a "Church Heirarchey" and not doing the right thing to look out for interest of innocent, defenseless
little children. After knowing how bad things
actually are, witnessing how this all onfolded
reinforced this element of corruption which exist
in all sectors of a democratic society. We pay
"TAXES" willingly or unwilling with no choice in
the matter. DEMOCRACY or HIPOCRACY, I wonder!!
Although some people may not be emotionally comfortable with the connotations the word "ditch" conjure up, Mr. Brenner did indeed "ditch" his family...Here's the definition of the word 'ditch'---*to get rid of someone or something because you no longer like or need them...
▸to end a sexual or romantic relationship with someone in a sudden and unkind way - source: OneLook Dictionary--or you may prefer this definition from WordNet: verb: to sever all ties with, usually unceremoniously or irresponsibly..... I believe that is exactly what Al Brenner did with regard to his family. S. Robertson, you do make a good argument. Perhaps he was suffering from mental health and possibly addiction issues. I am a compassionate person....he could have taken a few hits to his head in his football career and this could definitely account for irrational behaviour. I too, have 'taken hits' in life, as have all of us, I'm sure. And I am not ignorant to the suffering involved with addiction and mental health problems...when I wrote my comments, I was angry that Mr. Brenner just walked away. My comments were written with compassion in mind...my compassion is for his wife and 4 kids who were left behind to suffer. I do also feel for the plight of Al Brenner, especially now, when he is alone with apparently no one and nothing, and his wife and children are all have each other and a good life. Life is interesting, isn't it!
The very fact very persists which is online TV streaming brings at this time led to us all in the higher level regarding gaming.
How does one disappear so quickly? I'm going to the beach,,But if you don't see me, I have run away or someone has killed on the beach in daylight..I really think the police in Mexico missed something with respect to this man being dead. Or hidding with a new life. When you have no body, then you have no real prove of what happen to him. I think this guy is alive some where .
Takes all kinds to make the world go around and there are people that are unstable unfortunately. This cannot be helped that is the way life is! Did you actually re read what you wrote???????? You must be a little unstable for making that kind of commen. Do you know the family were you there????? You have condemned and prosecuted someone that is a mere child. How do you know where her problems even began??? Maybe instead of condemning the weak we should spend more time trying to help. If you watch the fifth estate then you know our mental health situation sucks so where does one get help. Meds doctors, family???? People who judge before all facts are in front of you??????
al, as an opponent i truly admired your talents. i'm saddened that things didn't work out the way they should have.......but when we played......remember you intercepted my pass and i tackled you.
boy, you were good.
For Al Brenner it seems that too many hits to the head and mental illness caused him to react in a way he cannot explain event over 20 years later. This led to to a downward spiral with addictions ... so sad to watch what he became. Proper treatment could have help avoid such a drastic change in his personality and lives of his family.
It is wrong to stop looking for missing people and assume that they have taken on new identities. Would you want someone to forget about you if you went missing and call you those trashy names? Why in this age would they do that? Media stores are there to present what truth is available, it does not give you commentor's a reason to condone the missing people. Nothing good to say, don't say it. Thornhill
Just for the record, the Al Brenner whom I knew and considered a very good friend was a caring, loving, conscientious and dedicated husband, father and friend. He was also one hell of an athlete!
I was truly shocked to actually see him and then extremely saddened to listen to him as he stuggled to verbalise his reason for disappearing those many years ago.
I don't smoke any more because of him; one New Year's Eve we challenged each other to quit smoking and I ended up going from 100 cigarettes a day to 0 just because it might be the only thing I would ever be able to beat him at. What an incentive! Sadly, I never had a chance to thank him...
I pray that Phyllis and all the kids can focus on "the special guy that was" because I, too, looking back on it all now and trying to make some sense of it, believe that "the guy that is" got his bells rung once too often.
I wish him peace and comfort.
Rob, I have fond memories of your whole family when we lived directly across from you on Warwick Dr when Al first tried out for the Tiger Cats.
Remind your Dad of the time I got a pawn on his back rank one time at chess. It would appear that your Mum did a great job at raising the family and please wish your Dad the very best,I am sorry to see him in such circumstances.
As always your investigative journalism is excellent. This program was exceptional because it was thought provoking. As Tolstoy wrote, I think in Anna Karenina "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." This is true about all families. All I can say about Julie is that she is a poor excuse for a human being. Her family deserved better.
Al Brenner, as some have mentioned took one too many knocks on the head while playing football and no one recognized this, not even the investigative journalist. He had no idea why he left, and how could he being hit as often as he was. One is left to wonder how he was able to respond to your questions as well as he did.
Two things trouble me in the story of Mark Comey. Was his passport not found? Why would it need to be flagged? It also seems odd to me that they would be at a resort whilst a default loan judgement is found against her. Having said that, the RCMP can't seem to decide whether they thinks he daed or alive.
sorry for previous? anyways, I do know how theese families feel. as Myself am a Canadian and my baby sister just dissappeared also. 15 yrs now. I will just not ever get an answer, but still remember her year after year on rememberance day also. I was told that some things you may just never know. But that will never stop for me. It is good as well as sad for me to hear their are others like myself in this world. thanks for bringing some light on the subject as always. I am really enjoying your programs, I hope your stories continue to be eye-openers for many more people.
the brenners family. after watching the show i was devastated really sad why he left them and how could he. his answer was ' he doesn't know why ' he also said ' it's not depression ' and he said he love his wife(ex) and children. it's disheartening to hear this from him. i noticed he was wearing a wedding ring! did he remarry ? was that the same wedding ring from his wife ? i cannot imagine the endless questions, hurts and sufferings his wife and kids endured. it is so immature and irresponsible to be pointing fingers at who's to blame and what to blame. in my opinion a matured positive person must be and should be responsible for his/her own actions. obviously on the other hand a mentally emotionally challenged person who refused help is selfish and immature.
no harm intended. i am experiencing this at the moment and i am glad to have watched the show it has enlightened me to the extent. still feeling devastated and angry. just my honest opinion. cheers!
Hae Mr Brenner ever been examined for head ijuries and post tramautic concussion disorder?
I watched with great anticipation to see how you would present Mark Comey's story. I know due to legalities and such that you can only relay what you can relay. However putting that story along side with those other two people angers me. I had great hopes that this story would somehow portray the anguish and the unexpectations one goes through, what the Comey family is going through. Instead I see it being delivered like Mark is another missing person living a life of freedom. If you couldnt have given this the justice this story deserves, wait and do it when you properly can.
I am sorry the other families had to go through what they did due to their own family members insensitivity.
Nothing can prepare you for losing someone you love, in any circumstance.
Rest in Peace Mark Comey
May your story be properly told one day, so that your family may have their own peace.
As a friend and former teammate of Al, I would also like to pass on my best wishes to the Brenner family. The AL that I remember was a good person , and it was sad to see someone you care for in these circumstances! Wishing the whole family Al included, love, luck, and happiness in the future.
the answer to Mr.Brenners disappearence is quite simple....addiction.period.
I truly feel deeply for Mr.Brenner and the disease which he has extremely deep denial for. His appearence said it all. I think a blind person could see it...everybody could his addiction ravaged body...except him of course.
addiction is an ugly and very powerful disease...the "denial" part of it can unfortunately be as powerful.
It made me feel very grateful that one day something spoke to me and said "stop the denying,face your demons , throw your pride out the window, and ask for help".
Jeff Peller,recovering alcoholic/addict, clean & sober 4 yrs.11months
Faymus, Julie reminds me of Patricial Hurst in the sense that Julie may be just as traumatized as Patty Hurst once was. Either Julie is, as someone mentioned, born psychopathic, or she is still living out a kind of paralysis or depersonalization that occured at the time of the rapes. Maybe Julie's fragile mind abandoned her that terrible night in Montreal - forever.
Rob, hopefully this story will bring you and your family some happiness. I have some great memories of your dad, and hanging out at the Brenner house.
Mr. Brenner shows symptoms of brain injuries from multiple concussions, probably related to his former profession. Victims of such injuries, and their families, deserve our sympathy and compassion, not condemnation.
In response to Anne Cameron`s post, it was obvious to me that Al Brenner did not "ditch" his family but was suffering from mental health and possibly addiction issues. Its too bad Fifth Estate did not focus on this...absolutely critical in examining what had occurred.
I totally agree with Anne on Robyn's story and I don;t even know her. As I was watching I was shocked as I watch fith estate all time that there was nobody to talk for her you never interviewed family and as Robyn said the Canadian company. As for the insurance company they don't want to pay anybody so of course they will deny this poor mother. I seriuosly hope you are doing a follow up story and very soon. There are all kinds of people in this world and maybe it was a plan but for you to just do interviews on one side is amazingly wrong. What about his family does he have none???? Why were they not interviewed??? My heart goes out to you Robyn and I hope that you get what you deserve and may you finally find peace in your life. I;m glad to see you have friends and family supporting you. Take care and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Hello Mr. Moore. I agree that the reasons for her running away from her mother were not given. I, too, wonder what could have been so awful that a 14 year old would put herself in such peril again and again. The girl did not display much common sense nor respect for her own person. I suppose we shall not know the whys of the daughter running from what appears to be a good solid family home. But, then again, appearances are what they are...just appearances. Perhaps the girl will mature some day and write a book about her experiences...one-sided of course.
How sad that Julie Bureau put her family through hell. She definitely displays a sociopathic personality disorder - no compassion, lack of empathy, and lack of remorse, shame or guilt.
I don't understand why the police couldn't read her e-mails and figure out that she had run away.
I am watched his interview and I think detective Rambam would have found Mr. Comey if he was live. The insurance company should ask the question.
I watched with shock the story of Julie Bureau. I couldn't believe why someone would want to run away from home and go through being raped. And not regret running away and staying away from home. Her parents seemed very distraught due to absence. This has got to be one of the saddest stories stories I have ever heard. My thoughts are with both Julie and her family.... Both parties have suffered great loss.
I just commented on the Al Brenner story, saying that Mr. Brenner's lack of an explanation for why he decided to just disappear was not acceptable to me. I also wanted to add that I give lots of respect to Al Brenner's wife for the wonderful job she did raising the four kids Al decided to ditch. They all seem well-adjusted, responsible people...obviously, learned that from their mother's example...
I don't think I could justify the profound hurt and pain I would leave in my wake if I made the radical decision to just disappear. Sure, there have been times when I wished I could start over and dis-inherit my personal problems. It's not that I think I'm morally superior but I really have a hard time accepting Al Brenner just doesn't know why he abandoned his responsibility. He has to have some idea. Behaviour follows thought. What was he thinking? He was thinking, "I don't feel like putting in the energy to raise these 4 kids I made with my wife" He's thinking, I just really want to worry about my own small-minded needs, not my wife's, not my children's...only mine!" That's what his thoughts were and so followed his behaviour!
agree 100%....... they had a guest make a comment but they never really probed as to her problems with her mom..... i mean, 14 year-olds with major issues with their mom - i think that's close to 100% of them.......... didn't really dig that much with that boyfriend of her best friend, although maybe he didn't know that much
Julie wow how bad could it have been between her and her mother? Probably not that bad but, her mother did not want to deal with it and sent her away to the school. P---ed her of and voila, it shows the thinking of a teen. Guess she will take care of the farm now.
The guy in mexico. I would have thought that kidnapping would have been second to drowning. They never even considered that in the story, odd. Not a very thorough reporting job.
Man You missrd the mark with this story.Mark
Mark Comey is gone for ever. There is a lot more to the story you did not find out. As family we know he is dead !!!!!!!!!!!!
A fascinating show, overall well presented. When I saw Al Brenner at the end of that segment, I cried and felt that he was a tragic figure who had suffered much. By the end of Julie Bureau's case, I felt anger towards her. I don't believe that she did end up in Mtl and her comment of "no regrets" translates as "no remorse" without any consideration of what she put her family, friends and the police through - what a selfish girl.
I found the stories interesting but too broad in explanation. I would have enjoyed a more in depth explanation regarding the details, leads, family stories etc of the investigations. For instance, I would have liked to heard from Al Brenner's family about when they received a phone call from him for the first time in years after thinking he was dead. What did he say? What were their reactions? Maybe just one story should have been featured more in-depth...
The Story about Al Brenner and his family that was aired the other night has really affected me. Growing up in my early years The Brenner Family were all wonderful to be around, I have countless vivid fond memories of being around them. To see him so aged and his family so full or life its hard not to pitty a once great family man and legendary figure in my neighbourhood who had it all. I feel their pain and admire their strength and tenacity. I wish their family good times.
The Story about Al Brenner and his family that was aired the other night has really affected me. Growing up in my early years The Brenner Family were all wonderful, I have countless vivid fond memories of being around them. To see him so down trodden and his family so full or life its hard not to pitty a man who had it all. 3 months before Al Brenner fell off the face of the earth, I suffered like emotions as the Brenners did with my older Brother ending his life without any warning or explanation. I feel their pain and admire their strength and tenacity.
Selfish, self-centered people!
Honey, you've got issues! Running away never solves things and is done deliberately to hurt to the people closest to you. You need some serious therapy.
I think it had to do with her relationship with her mom , Julie says near the end of the show that her mom knows why she ran away and that it was because of her mom.
I didn't get that at all from the story, that it was a biased presentation, and I'm sure most viewers would feel the same way. There are differing opinions as to what might have happened, and the story presents them. At the end of the day, the tragedy is that there are no definitive answers, and for that reason there can be no resolution, no closure. The hotel staff and authorities in Mexico clearly did not do enough to investigate the disappearance in the immediate hours after it happened...they know it, and their actions and words as presented in the story suggest an explaining away of an incident that could have tarnished reputations and hurt business. That I feel comes out quite clearly in the piece. As for insurance companies...they do whatever they can to keep their money and protect their bottom line. There is no human compassion or understanding or benefit of doubt in an insurer-insuree relationship. None. It's a business relationship designed to protect the insurance provider first and foremost, and insurance providers are most happy if they can find a way to never pay a dime to any insured client who goes through a tragedy such as this.
Julie Bureau is a cold, selfish,unfeeling pitiful creature.
She doesn't have enough humanity in her to be considered a human being. What a rotten, nasty soul. Her parents didn't deserve this treatment.
What goes around comes around, Julie.
Mark Comey's story seems incomplete. The story you did was about an insurance company with suspicions of fraud. I would like CBC to do a story on Mark, his family and friends. Have there been any unidentified bodies found in the past year matching Mark's description? It is Mexico and if he went out late at night he would/could have been a target for any number of crimes in Mexico. Please revisit your work on this story I am not comfortable, as a Canadian citizen who watches your show every week I was disappointed in this episode.
Rob, sorry to trouble you again. Might your Dad have suffered football-related brain injuries?
Rob: Thanks for sharing your story. After meeting your Dad when I was in high school, I often wondered what ever became of him.
Thanks again!
Perhaps Al Brenner suffers from mental health issues? Maybe, just maybe, if he had the right help at the right time, things may have been different. Kudos to his family for toughing it out without him, especially to his wife Phyllis.
As a secondary thought, I wonder if this might be related to the football-related brain injury issue.
Perhaps Bob McKeown could follow up?
We had Al Brenner speak at our high school athletic banquet in 1974. My memories of him are as a handsome,gracious,and glib athlete representing the league honourably. I remember him spending a little extra time encouraging others.
Time for the CFL and their player's association to return the favour.
About Al Brenner: Why do I smell that his wife said something hurtful while he couldn't find a job and he took it to his heart. Very sad .. yet kids had strong/loving memories and missed their father. I hope Mr. Brenner would disclose what really made him do what he did. sincerely, Bob
I live in Brisbane, Australia. I wanted to watch your latest Fifth Estate program of last week as some colleagues and friends of mine are in it. I was amazed to discover that you do not stream outside of Canada. I could not believe that you are so insular that you do not allow anyone outside Canada to view anything. I would be interested to know why?
Yours etc
Ian Fairbrother
As someone who has struggled over many years with the urge to disappear, I can understand how this happens. it is tough, when one's life seems pointless and stupid, to keep doing what you think you are supposed to do, being who people seem to think you are...it is tiring. I have never allowed myself to disappear. I am not sure if that means i am not courageous enough, or not heartless enough, but tonight's explorations seem to suggest it is kinder to others to stick around...
Regarding your story on Julie Bureau. I think you missed a more sinister story about here Montreal experience about being hogtied and reaped. This is a classic technique used by human traffickers to force these girls into prostitution. I believe if Julie had not escaped at that time she would have ended up on the streets of Montreal or some other Canadian or US city. I enjoyed your show but I think you might want to investigate the human trafficking issue in Canada a little further.
the reason she left is explained. hana says it verbatim: julie had long simmering conflicts with her mother. and then julie confirms that it was because of her mother that she left.
Hi, I saw your show Presumed Dead and it reminded me of my brother that went missing in 1976. We never saw him again. I hope it is the Brenner story, but I may never know.
I am now dealing with a girl of 24 who has the same "mommy" is evil story line (french also) and she also has an older man demonizing the mother to the young girl. Unfortunately the predator male wins! This young lady is as convinced her mother is the problem as this girl in your story. Nothing in the world can convince her different...only time possibly.
The real story that's being missed is how successful male predators are older are and why? I meet young woman and old and I also am a victim of a "magician"...and there are many children, family and women who are falling prey....there seems to be something missing in the "warning" systems of the female social conditioning. Our defences are down women!! Too far down!
Perhaps I missed it, but I did not hear an explanation for why Julie Bureau wanted to run away at all. She stated that she did not regret doing it (even when she was experiencing the horrendous things that happened to her) but I did not hear her indicate what was so bad about her home life at 14 that she found it more desireable to be assaulted, and violated. Could you please send me the answer to this if it is available?
Kind regards,
Gary Moore
As A friend of Robyn Comey's I am disturbed and angered by how the story was presented. You present this story about a grieving mother of three children with a missing husband but twist it into making viewers believe Mark left everything behind for a different life. I understand the possibilities of what could have happened...I don't believe them and nor does anyone i know and I'm sure if you told Robyn exactly how you were going to present this story she wouldn't have agreed to talk to you. All Robyn wanted was to tell her story and share her grief but instead you have it waivering that there is doubt he is dead but living another life. You have Mexican officials, private investigators and resort staff saying this is fraud and then you have Robyn saying no, he is missing and presumed dead. So if you are to present a balanced story why wouldnt you bring in Robyn's family members or friends or a Canadian official to side with Robyn and her family instead of leaving her high and dry leaving everyone to believe the possibility. As I watched the story I couldnt believe how this story pulled me in another direction...I felt sad and angered that you didn't sympathise with her but instead questioned her story and reported only what needed to be said to make viewers believe he left his family for a different life. I only hope none of you have to go through what Robyn and her kids are going through to understand My anger and frustration. The news is reported that way though presenting little facts and showing you what the reporter believes or wants you to believe to make a good story...I'm sorry Fifth Estate but you should be ashamed of yourselves for not reporting facts but should be applauded for once again showing me that its all about ratings and what a good story is all about...hats off to you for making Robyn and her family feel like they don't matter
Hmmmm. This is the CBC -- interesting story. But, but there is no end..there is just the beginning. where is the end of the story...it should be a lesson for people who have teenagers...kind of disappointing...to come to a serious web site..like cbc...to a lead story...and not to find an "end or somekind of a conclusion." disppaointed...and i will not return easily to cbc. stories...voila.
Great job to Oleh, Gillian, Paul and the whole crew. Much appreciated. It sure would be nice to bring Al back in more ways than one and the piece was done in a classy way so that it's more than possible. Thanks for breathing some life into him. Thanks to Tony Gabriel as well. If you have his email address, it would be nice to send him a Thank You note. He's looks great, much the way I would like my Dad to look. Thanks again.
Rob
my mother did the same thing she left 3 children and husband and parents and left.back in 1951, and i found my sister in 2004 ,and found out the whole story except why she never told anyone from her family ,and marrieded my dad and had two more children .butnever told anyone about her life before,,and died before my sister and brothers could see her one last time,, but i did send picturs of her.
my mother did the same thing she left 3 children and husband and parents and left.back in 1951, and i found my sister in 2004 ,and found out the whole story except why she never told anyone from her family ,and marrieded my dad and had two more children .butnever told anyone about her life before,,and died before my sister and brothers could see her one last time,, but i did send picturs of her.
Your story on Al Brenner lacked clarity and precision.I would expect better from this show than a resemblance to tabloid jounalism. The reason Al left was two-fold. One,he did not have the strength. And two,he did have the strength.To leave that is.It was not due only to weakness. That his family was better off for this is obvious. His failure was to leave them wondering.For all of this I can assure you he has and is still suffering. I would have expected at least a tenth more compassion.
Glad that Rambam isn't trying to find me, though I'd like to meet him.
The story of Julie Bureau, wow!! what a lost girl, now a woman. Would have liked CBC to explore more in depth her assertions that her mother was the problem. "Poor girl", her parents save every penny to send her to a private school and this is how she repays them.
In the end one can basically state that their daughter really is dead as that women speaking at the end about how she doesn't regret a thing even when she was in Montreal being raped; that is not the Julie they raised. I would hope for some kind of reconciliation but doesn't appear there will be.
These people who disapear on purpose leaving thier familys to suffer emotionaly,finicaily,are in my opinion are losers,just losers,shame on them