The
following excerpts from a CBC news article of October 13, 2009 contain quotes
from my brother Mike. They show the pain he was going through.
Regina
police distributed a missing person notice about Terry Sagal, who's been
missing since Dec. 18, 2001. (Regina Police Service) Almost eight years after
Terry Sagal left his Regina home for what was supposed to be a brief shopping
trip, the mystery of his disappearance continues to baffle police and his
family.
Did someone kill the 54-year-old husband and father? Or did he simply take off
with the plan of starting a new life elsewhere? No one knows for sure.
Although police say no hard evidence has been found to suggest foul play, there
are some relatives, including his brother Mike Sagal, who believe otherwise.
"I think he was murdered in Regina for the vehicle and thrown in a
dumpster," Mike said. "A few of my family members believe the same
thing."
The events of the last day he was seen shed little light on the mystery. …
Sagal is now one of 33 cold cases being investigated by the Regina Police
Service.
Sgt. Brent Shannon, the lead officer on the case, said investigators have
explored several avenues, including foul play and suicide.
Police are also looking at the possibility that Sagal chose to disappear.
"Certainly, when you're comparing his case to some of the other long-term
cases, [it's] much more plausible," Shannon said.
"I think because of his intelligence, his experience, his background, his
ability to pick up and start over would far exceed that of maybe some of the
other folks that we would compare against."
However, Mike Sagal said what he knows about his brother and the events of
December 2001 suggest foul play is more likely.
The fact the car was found far from Regina is significant, he said. Shortly
before he disappeared, Terry told family he couldn't drive to Moose Jaw for his
sister's birthday because he was worried his car wouldn't make it.
Terry always had his car radio set to CBC, but when the car was found, it had
been switched to another station, he said.
Before he disappeared, Terry had been working as a musician and an actor, doing
locally produced commercials and performing with the Regina Little Theatre,
Mike said.
He liked cooking, gardening and music and although not living a conventional
9-to-5 life, he was a creature of habit. For him to just take off doesn't make
sense, Mike said.
Instead, he wonders if someone out there is carrying a heavy secret.
He said he'd like answers, but as a parent, he's been forced to focus on his
own family and move on.
"I've actually found its best not to think about it because it gets
frustrating at times," he said.
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