James Cuthbert's car found at North Sydney ferry terminal

Halifax Regional Police say the car belonging to James Cuthbert, a 71-year-old Nova Scotia man who has been missing for 12 days, has been found at the North Sydney ferry terminal.

Police believe Cuthbert got on a Marine Atlantic ferry toward Port aux Basques, Nfld., on Oct. 26 at 11:45 p.m.

Cuthbert's four-door white Toyota Prius was found on Thursday afternoon. He has not been found.

"It's one curveball after another," said Tom Martin, Cuthbert's son-in-law.

Martin said investigators have learned Cuthbert changed his appearance by shaving off his beard before boarding the ferry. He kept his moustache.

"I've never seen Jim without a beard," said Martin.

He said he's not sure what the change in appearance means.

"I can't answer that. That's one of the many, many unanswered questions we have as a family and can't fathom," he said.

Martin said the family went through Cuthbert's banking records for the past year and all the money is accounted for. There was no unusual activity in his account prior to his disappearance and he has not used any of his accounts since he went missing, said Martin.

The family believes Cuthbert paid for the ferry ticket with cash.

"Obviously, Jim had a few bucks somewhere," said Martin.

Martin said in the time leading up to his disappearance, Cuthbert's mental state seemed fine. He said a week before the disappearance, the family got together for a late Thanksgiving supper.

"I don't think we [have] ever laughed so hard," said Martin.

Video from 60 cameras

Martin said the family assumed if the car was found, Cuthbert would be found along with it. He isn't sure whether it's good or bad news that Cuthbert may have boarded the ferry.

It would be better news if he knew definitely that his father-in-law walked off the boat, said Martin.

Marine Atlantic and local police forces are combing surveillance video to look for Cuthbert, said Martin. He believes there are more than 60 cameras on the ferry, which means it will take time to go through all of the security footage.

Martin conceded it is possible Cuthbert planned the disappearance, but the family is at a loss to explain why or what his goal was.

"That's what we don't know," he said.

Cuthbert has some relatives in Newfoundland specifically in Corner Brook and St. John's on his wife's side of the family.

The Head of Jeddore man was last seen at the Home Depot parking lot in Dartmouth Crossing between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 26.

Prior to that, Cuthbert was last heard from when he spoke to his wife on the telephone at the automotive desk at the Canadian Tire in Dartmouth Crossing around 12:30 p.m. the same day. He'd left his home near Highway 7 in the morning.

Halifax police have said while there's no reason to believe Cuthbert was hurt, his disappearance is out of character and they are concerned for his well being.

He's described as a white man who is six feet tall and weighs about 170 pounds. He has grey hair, a moustache, hazel eyes and rimless glasses. He was last seen wearing a brown leather bomber-style jacket and brown loafer shoes.