The sudden death of a North Bay resident is being investigated by Ontario Provincial Police.
North Bay OPP responded around 8 am on Monday after a body was located just off Highway 11, on what is unofficially known as Big Brother Road in Merrick Township.
The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Benjamin Budge.
Police say it’s believed he left the Maplewood Avenue area of North Bay and headed north on Highway 11 around 7:30 am on Sunday, June 13th.
Budge was wearing dark-coloured shorts, a tan long-sleeved shirt and was carrying a large green backpack.
It’s believed that he was on foot.
The initial investigation involved members of the OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT), OPP Forensic Identification Services (FIS), an OPP Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS), North Bay Police Service and North Bay OPP Crime Unit.
The North Bay OPP Crime Unit continues to investigate, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Ontario Forensic Pathology Services.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place in Sudbury on Wednesday.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or *OPP (677) on a mobile phone.
Those who wish to remain anonymous, can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at nearnorthcrimestoppers.com.
