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A long-running missing persons case has been solved, with a Winnipeg man who disappeared four years ago located safely.

But what happened to him in the meantime remains a mystery.

On June 28th 2009, Brent Staple didn’t show up for work, or return calls from his sister.

She went to his home at the Summerland Apartments on University Crescent.

Surveillance video from the apartment complex showed an older man being let inside the building by a woman the day Brent went missing.

Minutes later, he and Brent left. Since then his family has made public appeals for help finding him, including a Crime Stoppers video and a feature earlier this year on Global’s Focus Manitoba program.

On Thursday, Winnipeg police announced Brent had been safely located – but officers wouldn’t provide any more information. It’s still not clear where he was found or what he’s been doing for the last four years.

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Brent’s sister said the family doesn’t have much information yet either. She has spoken to Brent on the phone; he won’t say where he is, only that he is safe. It’s unclear if he will ever return to Winnipeg.

“I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed with everything right now, which is why I’m not calling. Yes, Brent has been found alive and well. I don’t really know many details, as we just found out. It hasn’t fully settled in on us yet. I’m not really able to answer questions, mainly because I don’t know the answers. We are extremely happy, and the whys don’t matter. All we care about is that he is safe,” said Corinne Staple in an email.