by Guy Page

Yesterday, Vermont Daily published a news story about the Burlington Police Commission urging the Barre Police Department to involve the FBI in the investigation of the year-long disappearance of a black man. The proposed resolution was couched in terms of doing more to provide justice for Vermont’s BIPOC community.

Today, Barre Police Chief Tim Bombardier provided the following press release (issued April 13), in which he says “the Barre City Police have continued to exhaust all investigative avenues in our attempts to locate Ralph and to identify the individual(s) responsible for his disappearance.” He is considering a response to the Burlington Police Commission.

“We have done 60 plus interviews, over twenty searches with people, K-9s, CSST, and drones,” Bombardier added. “We have had the assistance of both local, state and federal partners in Vermont and out of state, as well as the court processes through the Washington Co. States Attorney’s office, and we continue to work on this case daily.”

Press release:

The City of Barre Police Department and the Washington County State’s Attorney Office held a Press Conference April 13 at 130 pm, at The Hollow Inn on S. Main St. in Barre regarding the ongoing missing person investigation of Ralph Jean-Marie.

“It is our hope that by bringing this back to the forefront of the news and the public eye that those individuals in our community with knowledge of Ralph’s disappearance will come forward and talk to the police investigators assigned to this case,” Police Chief Tim Bombardier said. 

On April 15, 2020, the Barre City Police Department received a complaint that Ralph Jean-Marie, “Rizz”; had been missing since 1 am April 13, 2020.  It was reported that Jean-Marie had walked away from his hotel room at the Hollow Inn on South Main Street in Barre, Vermont.  

Prior to leaving Jean-Marie reportedly had a dispute with his significant other and left the hotel wearing only his gray pajama pants, a gray Carhartt jacket, black and gray hat that says “King” and black Adidas sneakers.  Jean-Marie has several underlying health concerns.  

Jean-Marie is described as a 38-year-old black male, approximate height of 5’10”, weight of 140 lbs, brown eyes and black hair.  Jean-Marie left the hotel without his medications, ID, wallet and eyeglasses.  This is highly suspicious as most people do not up and leave without taking their essential items. 

Jean-Marie has ties to both Massachusetts and New York, however, he has not contacted any family members. They have advised that this is not like him. We’re suspecting that someone has harmed him and we have been proceeding along those lines

The Barre City Police have continued to exhaust all investigative avenues in our attempts to locate Ralph and to identify the individual(s) responsible for his disappearance. 

In addition to this we have secured a reward for information leading to locating Ralph Jean-Marie and identifying the individual(s) responsible for his disappearance.  

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance or knowing the whereabouts of Ralph Jean-Marie, “Rizz”, is asked to contact the Barre City Police Department at (802) 476-6613. 

Tips may be submitted anonymously by texting keyword VTIPS to 274637 (CRIMES) or at https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous/state.vt.us.