Missing Brockville journalist found dead: police
Posted Aug 21, 2014 04:45:58 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BROCKVILLE, Ont. — Police have confirmed that a body found northwest of Brockville is that of Steve Pettibone, the sports editor for the Brockville Recorder and Times, who disappeared Monday morning.
Pettibone’s family has been notified and that an autopsy will be conducted Thursday in Ottawa.
Police found the 39-year-old’s car abandoned in a field, northwest of Brockville. His body was found nearby, Wednesday morning.
The OPP says foul play is not suspected.
“We’re devastated,” said Derek Gordanier, managing editor of the Brockville Recorder and Times. “This is a very tragic outcome.”
His close-knit co-workers had held out hope until the very end, Gordanier told 1310News. He says they’ve lost someone who brought a lot of joy and light into their newsroom.
“Reporters are very busy, very intense people,” Gordanier said. “Steve had that penchant for taking us down a notch in our intensity, when we needed it.”
Gordanier says he’s grateful for how the people of Brockville have rallied around Pettibone’s co-workers.
“It’s very gratifying to know that…they look beyond just the bylines and they have care and concern for the people behind them,” Gordanier said, his voice breaking with emotion. “That’s really been illustrated in this matter with Steve, and I’m very grateful for that.”
