A search with hope, shifts to a discovery with tears

William Schernhammer appears with his mother Rachelle in a Facebook photo

1 week ago (Jan 21) members of the Nottawasaga OPP had discovered the body of William Schernhammer, a 24 year old who was reported missing 1 week earlier (Jan 12). At the time of his disappearance he was not dressed for the extreme cold weather blanketing over the area. William's mother Rachelle wasted little time in contacting friends, family and authorities of his disappearance.

Family told authorities that William had been out with a friend Gabriel Dicecco

in a Facebook post Rachelle posted "at approx 12:00am my son William told his girlfriend he was going to the store for a pack of cigarettes. He then left their home with his friend who was driving. The two went to the Pioneer gas station on Victoria Street, East for cigarettes. William was seen on surveillance at the gas station. His friend (Dicecco) alleges that he then dropped William off (at William’s request) at the intersection of Albert St and Ontario St. Allegedly William told his friend (Dicecco) that he would walk home from there. That is when they parted ways. William has not been seen or heard from since. He has not been active online at all."

What was later to be disclose by multiple reports after the discovery of William remains was Dicecco was charged January 12 with obstructing. Dicecco would later be charged on January 22 (the date of discovery) with interfering with a dead body according to Barrie Courthouse records. Dicecco was friends with William for close to a decade the family said. William's remains were found approximately 10km from his last confirmed location and in an area sparsely populated outside of town.

The Thursday (Jan 18) prior to Williams unfortunate discovery a Vigil (was held to light his way home), with friends family and people wanting to help with the search. Earlier that day the Nottawasaga OPP launched a dedicated tip line and announced the investigation was being conducted by the Nottawasaga OPP Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB). This was the first indication that there was a possibility of wrong doings or wrong decisions would follow.

The vigil was emotionally charged, heartfelt and full of sorrow but also hope. William's brother Ben (a young man that saved an elderly lady from a fire 8 months earlier) was at the vigil as well as mother and sister. William's sister Cait spoke at the vigil "To me, my older brother has been my rock whom I've always looked up to, and who I've learned, who I've always leaned on for comfort in hard times. I wish he was here to hold my hand."

William Mother Rachelle, Sister Cait and Brother Ben at a vigil Jan 18, 2024

Prayers and tears were shared. Rachelle's Facebook feed was flooded with hope, Facebook groups shared the information, however mainstream media was able to continue the social media wave on that platform, a causality of the dispute with Bill C-18 (The federal government wanting Facebook to pay to share media in Canada). This was an instance that all the small and large medias were muzzled in getting the full message out to the public. Speaking with family members this portion of the aftermath is a struggle. As of now the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario has only identify William as the body discovered outside of Alliston and no other information on and autopsy or toxicology.

William's final chapter is not has not been finished as many question still need to be answered.

The questions that has been answered are a family has been devastated with the loss of a son, a brother.