Mystery of missing Kitchener student Eli Wood remains a nagging puzzle

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A runaway inferno in the rear unit of a Kitchener, Ont. home triggered a year-long missing persons mystery.

Following the blaze, 25-year-old student Eli Wood vanished. They have been missing for more than a year and tight-lipped cops are fearing the worst.

Early on Oct. 19, 2025, flames obliterated the unit on Major St. where Wood lived. The Waterloo Regional Police Service launched an arson investigation.

Cops looking for answers

“We’re still looking into what the cause of the fire was and trying to get answers for that as well,” Insp. Alison Sproule told CTV News.

But in the charred remains of the apartment, there was no sign of Eli Wood. Shortly into the probe, cops said they believed foul play was involved.

“The anniversary doesn’t change anything for us,” Sproule said. “Investigators are trying to determine Eli’s last preceding moments prior to the arson and anyone that may have had contact with Eli.”

Police have released little information on what led them to declare the blaze an arson or how they came to the conclusion that foul play was involved in the disappearance.

Wood is a native of Digby, N.S., and attended Mount Allison University before moving to Ontario. They moved to New Brunswick to attend Mount Allison University and then to the Waterloo Region to continue their studies in social work at Wilfrid Laurier University.

‘Eli doesn’t deserve this’

On the one-year anniversary on Monday, cops shared a video message from the missing student’s mom.

“Eli doesn’t deserve this,” said Cindy Wood, her voice shaky. “I think somebody does know something and I think it’s time that they spoke up.”

She said Wood’s disappearance has been particularly difficult for their siblings.

“Everything feels surreal,” his mom told CTV News. “I also feel very angry still and very sad because, when I look at everybody in the world, Eli is one of the most gentle souls I have ever met. I just can’t comprehend that somebody would want to harm him.”

Despite massive search efforts over the past year, organized by Wood’s friends and the community at large, there has been no sign of them.

Cindy Wood added: “Having your child missing in your own province is one thing but to have them in another province makes it a hundred times harder.

‘Somebody has to know’

“Somebody has to know and they’re keeping it to themselves because Eli doesn’t mean anything, Eli’s not a person to them. Eli’s everything to us and I think they just need to call it in, no matter what it is.”

Another puzzler for cops and Wood’s family is why they were targeted. One year ago, cops held their tongue. Not much has changed.

“Investigators have obtained enough information and enough grounds to determine that there was foul play involved in the disappearance of Eli,” WRP Const. Chris Iden said last year. “Just to maintain the respect and the integrity of the investigation, we’re unable to really explain or disclose any of that information.

He added: “You’re following the information to suggest that something may have happened. Once that is determined and the suspicion turns into what we call grounds, then we can say, ‘Okay, we now believe that foul play has taken place.'”

Eli Wood stands 4-foot-10, weighs between 85 and 95 pounds, with green eyes, white eyebrows and eyelashes. They also have several distinctive tattoos, including a flower and seahorse on their left forearm and a rainbow on their upper right arm.

Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant, is urged to call the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s Major Crime Unit at 519-570-9777, ext. 8191.

bhunter@postmedia.com

@HunterTOSun

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