A Stratford man missing for more than two decades has been located alive and well in Ottawa.

Stratford police, with the help of Ottawa police, said Thursday John Zacher, who was first reported missing in 1993, has been found in the nation's capital, living under an alias.

"This was some pretty diligent police work," said Stratford police deputy chief Mike Bellai, crediting Det. Sgt. Rob Byatt and Det. Dan Gray for their efforts on the case.

"It all worked out really well. We had great co-operation from the Ottawa Police Service, and our two detectives who went down," said Bellai. "It was just really good solid police work."

Ottawa police told the Sun, its missing persons section confirmed it was Stratford police who were here in Ottawa and that they "simply assisted them."

Zacher, who was 45 when he disappeared, was last seen by his wife May 11, 1993 at their Stratford home.

Bellai said Stratford police's criminal investigation division received numerous tips over the years.

An age-enhanced sketch of Zacher was done a few years ago, and his information was added to a national missing persons database.

After receiving some "timely and relevant information" he may be in the Ottawa area, detectives were sent to Ottawa.

"They did some solid interviewing and follow-up, did some surveillance, and then actually saw him on the porch," said Bellai, noting he was located Wednesday night, living by himself in a one-bedroom apartment.

Zacher had been living under an alias, he said, but provided a full statement to officers about his disappearance and how he'd been living for the last 22 years.

He went by three different aliases, John Isadore, John Seitz and John Palmby.

Bellai said it was also an example of persistence paying off.

"In cases like this, we never give up on them. They're always open," he said. "Every time we get a tip, we open it up and get busy on it again. So this just seemed to come into place."

Bellai said the family has been notified Zacher has been found.

"They're very private people, and they want to keep their privacy," he said.

Zacher had one outstanding arrest warrant held by the Halton Regional Police Service, which is returning him to appear in court to answer to the outstanding charges.

-- With files from Keaton Robbins