Please Help Locate Mark Gerald Bird

Mark Gerald Bird
Alias: Mark Turner (birth name)
Case reference: 2014002126
Missing since: March 17, 1997
Missing from: Welland, Ontario
Date of Birth: March 14, 1964
Age at disappearance: 33 years
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Eye Color: Blue
Hair: Brown, Curly & Long
Height: 188 cm / 6ft 2in
Weight: 82 kgs / 181 lbs
Physical Build: Medium
Complexion: Light/Fair
Mark was last seen wearing: Size 14 black winter boots, denim jeans – possibly black, a San Francisco 49ers football hoodie and a blue plaid shirt.

Case Details: Mark was last seen when he left his home in Welland, Ontario. Mark left all of his belongings behind, however the un-plated car that belonged to his mother was missing from the driveway. The car was later located abandoned on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, Ontario. At the time of his disappearance, Mark was despondent.

Here is a little bit about Mark written by his sister.

Mark Gerald Turner was born on March 14, 1964 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

His parents separated when Mark and his sister were at young age and then they moved away with his Mother, Step Father, step brothers and sisters and later another brother was born.

They moved to a small town called Fenwick, Ontario where Mark attended E.L. Crossley Secondary School in Fonthill.

Growing up, Mark had a lot of friends. He was an outdoorsman who loved animals, camping and large bonfires where he would sit out all night under the stars. Our family lived on a hobby farm where Mark enjoyed looking after the farm and all the animals and grass cutting. Mark loved cool cars, trucks and motorcycles and snowmobiling was another passion of his. Mark loved his army truck and had a Cameo truck that he purchased to refinish. A big dream he had. Mark also loved music – in particular he loved to listen to Neil Young. He would regularly attend concerts and the Bluegrass Festivals.

Mark was very close to his step father Eric Bird who owned Birdland Chevrolet in Welland, Ontario. He later changed his name legally to Mark Gerald Bird. It was at Birdland where Mark realized his love for doing body work on cars and trucks. When that business closed, Mark went out on his own and opened his own body work businesses.

Mark’s true joy was his German Shepherd dog who was his loyal friend, always by his side named Astro. They were always together. When Mark left, he did not take Astro with him. This was a huge red flag and sadly, Astro died just days later….from a broken heart.

Mark had financial difficulties, mental issues, health issues and he was in a depressive state leading up to his disappearance. At that time, he was living in the basement of his mother’s rental property in Welland.

Mark was a son, a brother, an uncle and a friend.

On the day of his disappearance he took nothing personal with him. His mother’s un-plated car that was in the driveway was also missing. The car was later found abandoned on Clifton Hill.

To date, Mark has not been seen or heard from since.

If you have information on Mark’s case, please contact any of the following:
Niagara Regional Police Service:
Telephone: 905-688-4111
Reference Case#: 1997-23930

Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS(8477)
Online at: https://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip
Crime Stoppers provides anonymous tipping

Send email to the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains at: canadasmissing-disparuscanada@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Sources:
Canada’s Missing
Family Member