BAREFOOT IN THE DARK: Desperate Search for Éric Lavoie Gauthier

The cold reality of a missing person case has gripped the community of Chibougamau, Quebec, where the search for 37-year-old Éric Lavoie Gauthier is escalating into an urgent crisis. Missing since the early hours of Sunday morning, the details of his last known sighting suggest he is in immediate danger, forcing the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) to make a plea for public action.

The Alarming Disappearance at 2 a.m.

Éric Lavoie Gauthier was last seen around 2 a.m. on October 19 on 3rd Street. The time of his disappearance—the dead of night—is alarming enough, but the most critical detail is his possible state: he is believed to be on foot and potentially barefoot, wearing only a dark blue hoodie and black jogging pants. In a region where October can bring harsh, cold temperatures, this lack of protection puts his life at extreme risk. For his family, the agony of imagining Éric out in the cold, vulnerable and alone, is an unbearable torment that demands every available resource be put into the search.

The Critical Role of Community Vigilance

The Sûreté du Québec is pursuing all leads but recognizes that a community tip is often the key to locating a missing person. Residents and businesses in Chibougamau are urgently asked to check their properties, especially secluded areas like sheds, garages, or even ditches near the road. Every person who was driving near 3rd Street on that morning must check their dashcam footage, as a quick, blurred image could lead authorities to Éric’s location. The smallest piece of information is invaluable in a search where time is such a critical factor, and where the vulnerability of the missing person is so high.

An Immediate Plea: Call 911

We implore every reader to share Éric Lavoie Gauthier’s information widely and to keep a sharp lookout. If you see a man matching his description—a 37-year-old in a dark hoodie and jogging pants, potentially without shoes—do not delay. Call 911 immediately. Let us be the eyes, the hands, and the voice that brings Éric Lavoie Gauthier home safely to his loved ones in Chibougamau before the cold can claim another tragic victim. Your call could save his life.