Police confirm Brendan Martin’s remains found in Southampton

The family of Brendan Martin says the search for their missing loved one has come to a tragic end.

Police have confirmed that human remains discovered in the area of the Southampton harbour earlier this month were in fact the remains of 32-year-old Brendan Martin.

Last seen in Southampton in the early hours of Jan. 18, Martin’s family had spearheaded a search in the area.

As a result of search efforts, police say that on March 16 human remains were confirmed to have located in the area by members of the Saugeen Shores Police Service. At the time, police would not confirm the identity of the remains, but awaited confirmation by a forensic pathologist.

Brendan Martin Police released an image of Brendan Martin who disappeared on Jan. 18, 2025, in Southampton, Ont. (Source: OPP) (OPP)

In a statement issued on Wednesday, police confirmed that the remains did in fact belong to Martin. A cause of death has not been released.

At the beginning of March, South Bruce OPP issued a press release saying “foul play cannot be ruled out in Brendan’s disappearance.”

032625_funeral home martin brendan southampton london wiarton Brendan Martin is seen in this undated photo (Source: Thomas C. Whitcroft Funeral Home)

- with files from CTV News London’s Scott Miller