Natanis Merasty Missing: What Happened to the 24-Year-Old Woman?

Natanis Merasty: Missing from Edmonton, Alberta

Case Summary from Canada's Missing

File number: 2025024076 : Case summary below is a paraphrase of information published by Canada's Missing.

Natanis Merasty, 24, travelled from Saskatchewan to Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday, May 2, 2025. She stayed at the Continental Inn on Stony Plain Road with a group of individuals. In the early morning hours of Monday, May 5, 2025, Natanis left the Continental Inn. Edmonton Police Service later released surveillance footage showing her movements that morning, including her arrival at a nearby 7-Eleven at approximately 2:55 a.m.

Natanis has not been in contact with her family since that time. Police consider her disappearance suspicious.

Missing Person

Natanis Merasty

Be careful with assumptions about stills taken from video footage. In this image, she does look sad or distressed. However, stills can lead to false impressions like that. An inference that she was sad or distressed may or may not be true.

Name: Natanis Merasty

Age at disappearance: 24

Birthdate range based on age: May 6, 2000 – May 5, 2001. Canada's Missing lists her birth year as 2001.

Gender: Female

Bio group: Indigenous (Peter Ballantyne Indian Reserve)

Height: 175 cm (5 ft 9 in, another source says 5'"8)

Weight: 77 kg (170 lb, another source says 180 pounds)

Build: Medium

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Brown, long

Last known location: 7-Eleven at 156 Street and 107 Avenue in Edmonton, Alberta.

Date last seen: Monday, May 5, 2025, at approximately 2:55 a.m., based on surveillance footage from the 7-Eleven.

Backpack: Black, cross-body

Jewelry: Stud earrings

Jewelry: Silver, aluminum or stainless-steel necklace

Pants: Black leggings

Shirt: Grey and black, with black long sleeves

Shoes: White Nike brand

Scars: Self-harm scars on the legs and arms

Tattoo: Possible cross tattoo on either forearm

Tattoo: Left hand: rose and vine with the initials "DJM"

Timeline

The following timeline is based on information released by the Edmonton Police Service and reported by Global News on July 18, 2025.

An important distinction should be made between Natanis herself and her vehicle. The May 5 surveillance footage establishes Natanis's presence at the Continental Inn and 7-Eleven. Later entries concern reported sightings or movements of her vehicle and do not establish that Natanis was inside it.

1. Monday, May 5, 2025 — 1:22 a.m.: Natanis is captured on CCTV at the Continental Inn, 16625 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton. She is observed driving away in her 2007 black Hyundai Tucson with Saskatchewan licence plates.
2. Monday, May 5, 2025 — approximately 1:30 a.m.: Natanis's vehicle returns to the Continental Inn.
3. Monday, May 5, 2025 — 2:37 a.m.: Natanis's vehicle leaves the Continental Inn again.
4. Monday, May 5, 2025 — approximately 2:55 a.m.: Natanis is captured on CCTV at a 7-Eleven at 156 Street and 107 Avenue in west Edmonton. She leaves the store at approximately 2:55 a.m. This is the last reported surveillance-camera sighting of Natanis.
5. Monday, May 5, 2025 — later: Natanis's vehicle is reported in the Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Buck Lake, Nordegg and Lake Louise areas.
6. Tuesday, May 6, 2025: The vehicle travels through British Columbia.
7. Wednesday, May 7, 2025: The vehicle travels by ferry to Nanaimo, British Columbia.
8. Friday, May 9, 2025: Natanis is reported missing by her family to the RCMP in Saskatchewan after they had not heard from her for four days.
9. Saturday, May 10, 2025: The vehicle returns to the Edmonton area.
10. Monday, May 12, 2025: The vehicle is observed west of Lloydminster. Police later stated that the vehicle was still black on this date.
11. Thursday, May 15, 2025: Natanis's vehicle is found abandoned on James Smith Cree Nation in east-central Saskatchewan. By this point, the vehicle has been repainted silver. 
12. Thursday, May 22, 2025: Edmonton Police Service takes over the investigation.
    

Online speculation:
There are theories about the vehicle, the Vancouver Island trip, the repainting, who might have been driving, and why the vehicle ultimately appeared on James Smith Cree Nation.

The hotel provided security footage to the RCMP, according to hotel management's response to a review I read for The Continental Inn. The review does not specifically name Natanis Merasty, but I am confident that it pertains to her.

Last seen on 7-11 Footage

"Last seen on 7-11 footage" is more common than you might think. 7-11s are open 24 hours, and they are open during the clandestine hours of night, as sometimes the only businesses that are open in an area.

Furthermore, 7-11s are typically heavily cammed. They also have inexpensive products, which will make them popular at any time of day or night. Furthermore, 7-11s are also usually very well located at important intersections or along highways.

As a night owl myself, I can also state that 7-11s often have dodgy people loitering in them or around the entrances at night. The following is "take it or leave it" because this is opinion only, but 7-11 parking lots, entrance ways, bathrooms, or counter space are places where you find, let's say, less trustworthy people in the shadow of night. 

Emma Fillipoff, Nick Stevens, Zachary Vidal, and Alexis Ware are people who are or were missing where 7-11 footage was either their last sighting or the footage was, at least, among their final known footsteps. If you follow missing persons cases, watch how often 7-11 footage pops up. In fact, 7-11 clerks who work the night shifts probably see quite a lot.

Natanis Merasty's Vehicle

Natanis was driving a 2007 black Hyundai Tucson with Saskatchewan licence plates while she was in Edmonton. It's not clear who is driving the vehicle when it is spotted outside of Edmonton.

AI-generated likeness of a 2007 black Hyundai Tucson. This image is not Natanis 

This is a still of the actual vehicle. Plate says 286 NTX. Taken from APTNNews.

Questions About the Vehicle Route

The publicly available information does not provide an exact route between every reported location where the vehicle is noted to have been. The route from the Edmonton area to Nanaimo that the vehicle took is therefore incomplete. The reported locations also pertain to the vehicle's movements.

In my opinion, one unusual aspect of the movement is from Sherwood Park through Buck Lake and Nordegg toward Lake Louise. This is not necessarily the most direct route from the Edmonton area toward the Lower Mainland. Other possible routes exist, including routes through Jasper and Kamloops or south through Calgary.

Speculation: One possible explanation is that the driver deliberately avoided some of the major highway corridors. If that were the case, minimizing public exposure could have been one possible reason. However, there is no public evidence establishing that the driver was attempting to avoid detection, and this should be regarded only as my hypothesis.

Another possibility is that the route was determined by circumstances that are not publicly known. The available timeline does not identify who was driving the Tucson during the later sightings, nor does it establish why the vehicle travelled through those particular areas. I think amateur investigators working on this mystery could document any highway closures in western Canada during the relevant time frame, particularly if that was between Sherwood Park and greater Vancouver.

Possible Route Through the Rockies

If the vehicle travelled from Nordegg toward Lake Louise, one possible route would have taken it west on the David Thompson Highway toward Saskatchewan River Crossing and then south toward Lake Louise through Banff National Park. This is only one possible reconstruction; the published police timeline does not provide the exact roads used, just vehicle locations.

The unusual nature of the reported route is worth noting, but there may be explanations that are not publicly known. I do have expertise on western Canada as a former author of a travel guide for the region. Additionally, I have worked in Nordegg, Jasper, Banff, and Canmore, and know the highways well.

Vehicle on Vancouver Island

The published timeline says the vehicle travelled by ferry to Nanaimo on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, and that the vehicle was back in the Edmonton area on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The public reporting does not provide the exact time of the May 10 Edmonton-area sighting. Consequently, the exact date on which the vehicle left Vancouver Island cannot be established from the published timeline alone.

When did the vehicle leave Vancouver Island?

Possible ferry-departure window: May 7, May 8, May 9, or, theoretically, May 10. May 10 is heavily constrained because the vehicle was already reported back in the Edmonton area that day. There are similar constraints on the vehicle leaving Vancouver Island on May 7 because that is the day the vehicle arrived there. In my assessment, May 8 or May 9 appears more plausible, but this is an inference.

Several ferry routes could theoretically have been used to leave Vancouver Island, including Nanaimo (Departure Bay) to Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo (Duke Point) to Tsawwassen. Other, less likely possibilities also exist, like the island-hopper route from Crofton to Tsawwassen via Salt Spring Island. Also, there is a route from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert. The publicly available case information does not identify the ferry terminal or sailing used by the vehicle.

Speculation: In my opinion, if the driver was intentionally choosing less direct routes, it would be premature to assume that the most geographically efficient ferry route was used. The unusual mainland route described above is one reason the precise ferry route should not be assumed without additional evidence.

It is also important not to confuse the vehicle's movements with Natanis's whereabouts. The fact that the Tucson reached Vancouver Island and subsequently returned to Alberta does not establish that Natanis accompanied it on either journey.

What Is Known — and What Remains Unknown

• Natanis was captured on surveillance footage at the 7-Eleven at approximately 2:55 a.m. on May 5, 2025.
• Her vehicle was subsequently observed in multiple locations across Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
• The vehicle travelled by ferry to Nanaimo on May 7.
• Between May 7 and May 10 inclusive, the vehicle took a ferry off of Vancouver Island.
• The vehicle was back in the Edmonton area on May 10.
• The vehicle was observed west of Lloydminster on May 12.
• The vehicle was found abandoned on James Smith Cree Nation on May 15. It had been repainted and was now silver.
• The public timeline does not establish who was driving the vehicle during its later movements.
• The public timeline does not establish Natanis's whereabouts after her last confirmed surveillance sighting.
• The exact method investigators used to reconstruct every vehicle sighting has not been publicly explained in the sources cited here.

Hotels in Nanaimo: Call to Action for Employees

In my opinion, a possible lead may still exist in Nanaimo. People who work at budget hotels or motels may wish to check whether their property recorded the Saskatchewan licence plate belonging to Natanis Merasty's 2007 Hyundai Tucson around May 7th, 8th, and 9th, in 2025. If the plate appears in a registration card, parking or vehicle record, then that information could potentially help establish where the Tucson was during its time on Vancouver Island. Any potentially relevant record should be preserved and handled delicately rather than altered or discarded, and provided directly to the appropriate investigators.

Registration cards and similar documents may contain personal information, so they should not be photographed, published online or shared publicly; they should be handled confidentially and turned over to investigators through an appropriate channel.

This is a still of the actual vehicle. Plate appears to say 286 NTX. Taken from APTNNews.

Case Information

• Canada's Missing case reference: 2025024076
• Edmonton Police Service case: CA250409080
• Missing from: Edmonton, Alberta
• Last confirmed sighting: Monday, May 5, 2025
• Reported missing: Friday, May 9, 2025

Official Sources

• Canada's Missing — Government of Canada
• Edmonton Police Service — Natanis Merasty case
• RCMP / Canada's Missing — Case 2025024076
• Global News — Vehicle timeline and investigation update

Information on this page is based on publicly available police, Government of Canada and news-media records. Statements identified as speculation or hypothesis are the author's analysis and are not presented as established facts. Case information may change as the investigation develops. Last checked August 24, 2026.

Lisa Marie Young - Missing From Nanaimo, BC Since June 30th, 2002

Field	Details
Missing Person	Lisa Marie Young (Appears to be her maiden name)
Missing Since	Sunday, June 30th, 2002 (early hours of morning)
Age at Disappearance	21 years old
Birthdate Range	Monday, July 1st, 1980 to Sunday, June 30th, 1981
Gender	Female
Ethnicity/Bio Group	Indigenous
Height	5 ft 2 in (158 cm) (described as 5'10" in a newspaper article)
Weight	117 lb (53 kg)
BMI	19.8 (calculated as weight in kg divided by height in meters squared: 53 / (1.58)^2). This BMI falls in the normal weight range (18.5-24.9), helping to visualize Lisa as having a slender and thin build—neither underweight nor overweight, which aligns with her described physique and aids in mental reconstruction of her appearance for identification purposes.
Eye Color	Brown
Hair	Black, long, straight
Build	Slender/Thin
Complexion	Other
Jewelry	Silver, aluminum, stainless steel, hoop necklace with medallion
Clothing	Black tank top, black skirt, black shoes (size 8)
Tattoo	Right arm, band of flowers with heart
Missing From	Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Circumstances	In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 30th, 2002, Lisa Marie Young was seen for the last time in Nanaimo, British Columbia. On the night of Saturday, June 29th, 2002, Lisa travelled to a local bar and met with some acquaintances. Lisa and her acquaintances accepted a ride from a man to an afterparty. Subsequently, Lisa left with this male driver to get some food, but communicated to her acquaintances that she would be returning to them via taxi. She has not been seen or heard from since. Based on investigational information, the Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Unit believes that she may have been met with foul play. Police requests that anyone with information contact them directly.
Source	Canada's Missing Case Reference: 2013000120
Last Contact	Last seen in Nanaimo, affiliated with Departure Bay area.

By: Shane Lambert
Original Publication Date: October 25th, 2025

On the night of June 29th, 2002, 21-year-old Lisa Marie Young, an Indigenous woman from Nanaimo, British Columbia, went out to celebrate the Canada Day long weekend. She started at a local nightclub , where she socialized with acquaintances. Dressed in a black tank top, black skirt, black size-8 shoes, and a hoop necklace with a medallion, Young also had a distinctive tattoo on her right arm—a band of flowers with a heart. Her slender build (5 ft 2 in, 117 lb, BMI 19.8) and long, straight black hair were notable features.

After the nightclub, Young and her acquaintances accepted a ride from a new acquaintance, who was not named in the early journalism but has since been named as Christopher William Adair. According to a late 2024 news article with TurkiyeToday, this man now splits residency between Turkey and the Phillipines.

Around 2:30 a.m. on June 30th, Young left the party with Adair in his burgundy Jaguar to get food at a nearby McDonald’s. She told friends she would return by taxi.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., a friend received a text from Young’s phone stating, “come get me, they won’t let me leave,” raising immediate concern. This was her last known communication.

Young was last seen entering Adair’s vehicle on Bowen Road, near the nightclub and party locations.  The Nanaimo RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit believes Young met with foul play, treating the case as a homicide. Despite searches, no remains have been found, and Adair, a person of interest, has not been charged. The case remains unsolved, with ongoing appeals for information.

This is a well-covered case online. I included the early journalism for my readers in clippings below.

July 5th, 2002. Times Colonist.

July 10th, 2002. Times Colonist.

September 2nd, 2002. Time Colonist.

Angela Morningstar Alexis -- Missing Since August 17th, 2022

Missing Person: Angela Morningstar Alexis - 2025 Update

Details from a Government Source

On August 17th, 2022, a family member last saw Angela Alexis as she left a residence on the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation in Alberta. Days before, she had been socializing with family and friends.

Last Contact: August 17th, 2022 (per government source); a news report suggests September 2nd, 2022 (APTN News).

Profile

• Last Location: Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Alberta (northwest of Edmonton, near Onoway)
• Age at Disappearance: 28
• Sex: Female
• Height: 66 inches
• Weight: 170 lbs
• Ethnicity: Aboriginal/Indigenous
• Hair Color: Black/brown, long and straight
• Eye Color: Brown
• Scar/Distinctive Characteristic: None noted
• BMI: 27.44 (overweight by BMI standards; note: BMI is a general guide, not definitive for all body types)

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW): See related posts via this #MMIW hashtag.

Resources

• Government Source: Canada's Missing - Case 2022043376
• Online Discussion: APTN News Article

Commentary and Research

By Shane Lambert, originally written February 11th, 2025

Has Angela Morningstar Alexis Been Found?

As of March 16th, 2025, Angela remains missing. Early journalism covered her case, but updates have been scarce. The discrepancy between August 17th (Canada’s Missing) and September 2nd (APTN News) for her last sighting suggests possible ambiguity in reports.

Family statements hint at risky associations—her uncle, Francis Alexis, advised her to avoid drug and alcohol abusers. Angela had recently been released from prison and faced past trauma, which may contextualize her disappearance.

YouTube Coverage

This video explores details of Angela’s case, including family efforts to find her.

Call to Action

What do you think happened to Angela? Share your thoughts below or help spread awareness using #MMIW.

Gloria Jean Abotossaway -- Missing Since February 14th, 1992 After a Murder at Her Apartment

Missing Person: Gloria Jean Abotossaway

Nickname: Marty

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased): On February 14th, 1992, Gloria Abotossaway was last seen by a family member on Shuter Street in Toronto, Ontario.

Last contact: February 14th, 1992 (Friday, Valentine's Day)

DOB: October 7th, 1963

Last location: Toronto, Ontario on Shuter Street

Age when Gloria Jean Abotossaway disappeared: 28

Sex: Female

Height in inches: 62

Weight in pounds (lbs): 130

BMI: Gloria Jean Abotossaway had a BMI of 23.77. She was at a healthy weight by BMI standards at the time of her disappearance.

Ethnicity: Aboriginal/Indigenous

Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: Click the tag "missing and murdered aboriginal women" to see all the cases that are profiled at this site

Hair color: Brown and long

Eye Color: Brown

Scar or distinctive characteristic: Nothing found

Link to Government Source (Canada's Missing): 2014005078 (right click to open)

Websleuths discussion page: Gloria Jean Abotossaway (right click to open)

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Commentary and Research

By: Shane Lambert

Original time of writing: February 11th, 2025

At the original time of writing, full research on this case is pending. However, I wanted to get some bullet points onto the website regarding this case. I found some useful information on the Websleuths page for this missing person (her page is hyperlinked above).

The Websleuths page itself hyperlinks back to Canada's Missing, the RCMP's website for Canada's missing people. However, it's not clear where the Websleuths user got the info (web pages change all the time). It did state the following pointers:

• She lived at 90 Shuter Street.
• The MP said she was going to Moss Park with her boyfriend, someone named Lenny.
• They were going to meet someone named Bob Russo.
• Gloria Abotossaway took her birth certificate and a status card with her (a status card is a card that some Indigenous people in Canada have; it is government identification that pertains to The Indian Act); She was a member of the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nations, otherwise known as Sucker Creek First Nations in Little Current, Manitoulin Island.
• The missing person had previous disappearances that were presumptively voluntary and short-term.
• There was a murder in her apartment the night she disappeared. The victim was David Marlatt.
• There was a statement saying that Gloria was not considered to be involved in anything suspicious, despite the murder of someone in her apartment.

Her address at 90 Shuter Street is visible in Google Maps going back to September 2007. You can visit this page to see the building and what it looked like at that time.

It's said she was going to Moss Park, which would be a very short walk from her address. This was known as a rough area in 1992, with drug transactions and dangerous people.

She did go missing on Valentine's Day and the MP was with her boyfriend. This wasn't someone that anyone in her circles knew well as he has not been identified (only as "Lenny").

Can't Look Further Than The Murder in Her Apartment

I think the elephant in the room with this case was that there was a murder in her apartment the night of her disappearance. She clearly wasn't having a standard day.

I think anyone thinking about this case should wonder what it means exactly to go missing on the same day that there is a murder in your apartment of another individual, a murder that the police did not think you committed.

The murdered man was named David Marlatt. I did some research, I think I found the murderer, but I don't want to name him in print. I do feel safe in saying that Gloria Jean Abotossaway kept some dangerous associations.

Did she see too much? More research is necessary on this case.

My inclination is that someone had a motive to disappear her. However, the kind of person who has a murder take place in their apartment is someone more likely to have dangerous associations.

Furthermore, in news sources, it is stated that she has not filed taxes since at least the year 2000. If she filed in that year, then it would mean she survived her disappearance date by several years.

Are we dealing with two dates in this case? One in 1992 and then another around 2000? Tax returns were signed back then, so would that be proof she survived the timeframe after the murder in her apartment?

Yet, her family has not seen her since the night of the murder in 1992. She is missing from them in that sense, but it seems like she has a paper trail extending to the year 2000.

The last thing I want to say at this time is that "Lenny" and "Bob Russo," whoever they are, could have many name variations. Lenny could be all of Leo, Leonard, Leonardo, and perhaps more. Meanwhile, Bob could be Bobby, Robert, Rob, Robbie, Robby, and perhaps more as well. Anyone researching this case should be aware of all the different spellings.

I also wondered if Russo was the spelling of the name or just how it sounded. If it is just the way the name sounded, then it brings "Rousseau" into play.

Marlene Yvonne Abigosis -- Missing Since January 1st, 1984*

Missing Person: Marlene Yvonne Abigosis

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased): Marlene Abigosis was last seen in March of 1984 in the downtown east side of Vancouver. Marlene was engaged in a high-risk lifestyle. Marlene was known to work near the docks, and clients who owned boats would take Marlene with them on trips to Washington State and Vancouver Island.

Last contact: March 27th, 1984 (Tuesday), according to date-of-death at family tree at Ancestry; I believe the use of January 1st in some reporting may only be due to using the first day of the year as a placeholder

Last location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Age when Marlene Yvonne Abigosis disappeared: 26 (Canada's Missing says 27 years old, but that appears to be wrong) (DOB: November 23rd, 1957, according to her Ancestry family tree profile)

Sex: Female

Height in inches: 66

Weight in pounds (lbs): 119

Ethnicity: Aboriginal/Indigenous

Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: Click the hashtag to see all of the "missing and murdered aboriginal women" profiled at this site

Hair color: Black and wavy shoulder-lengthed hair

Eye Color: Brown

Scar or distinctive characteristic: Nothing found

Link to Government Source (Canada's Missing): 2014001708 (right click to open)

Online discussion page: Marlene Yvonne Abigosis (right click to open)

BMI means body mass index. It is meant to describe someone's healthy body weight relative to the individual's height. It is only food for thought because it does not account for all body types.

Marlene Yvonne Abigosis had a BMI of 19.21. This means that she was at a healthy weight by BMI standards at the time of her disappearance.

Commentary and Research

By: Shane Lambert

Original time of writing: February 11th, 2025

Has Marlene Yvonne Abigosis been found?

In regard to the missing person, Marlene Yvonne Abigosis, the Canada's Missing website states that she frequented Vancouver's downtown east side. This is one of the most notorious areas of Canada in terms of clandestine activity and public safety. The epicenter of the area is East Hastings Street, where is crosses with Main Street.

This is the area that serial killer Robert Pickton frequented. However, Marlene's 1984 disappearance date is still several years earlier than when it is thought that he started disappearing prostitutes from the area.

It is stated that Marlene Abigosis had a high-risk lifestyle. That is normally associated with prostitution, substance abuse, and/or dangerous associations (ie. people who use drugs or are involved in the trade).

It is also said that she sometimes went in boats with clients to Vancouver Island and Washington State. Unfortunately, this does make you wonder a client disappeared her in water.

Ironing Out Some Details

The missing person does appear in a family tree at Ancestry (paywalled). Her parents were Frank Abigosis and Vitaline Lillian Abigosis, both passed on. Marlene Abigosis is also treated as deceased in the family tree as of March 27th, 1984. She was 26 years old at the time, making her age at her Canada's Missing profile a little bit off. 

This missing person does not really have a significant presence in the online databases I looked at (Ancestry and Newspapers.com). She was part of a huge family with scores of siblings. Perhaps a family member can shed some light on her last months before her disappearance in the comments section.

She did appear in some newspapers in 2002, but this well after her disappearance event. Furthermore, the following blurb contains information not supported by those that maintain her family tree. As often the case, it's not clear which source to go by.

Vancouver Sun, July 26th, 2002.

When January 1st appears in a missing person report, it is normally just a result of someone using the date as a placeholder or to bypass a field that must be entered. It would usually mean the MP disappeared sometime that year. The family tree specifies March 27th, 1984, as her date of death, presumably her date of disappearance too. Also, her family tree says she was originally from Manitoba, not Saskatchewan.

Juanita Migwans Missing - Ontario Woman Not Seen Since October 4th, 2024

Missing Person: Juanita Migwans

Nickname or Alias: Winnie

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased): Juanita Migwans was last seen on October 4th, 2024, on Riverside Drive in the First Nation of M'Chigeeng, Ontario. She did not have her cell phone or bank card. Some sources have said she "lost" them, which would imply accidental misplacing. The last banking activity was on September 25th, 2024. Her family and friends are concerned for her well-being as she hasn't been heard from.

Last contact: October 4th, 2024 (Friday)

Last location: M'Chigeeng First Nation, Ontario, on Manitoulin Island

Age when Juanita Migwans disappeared: 30

Sex: Female

Height in inches: 66

Weight in pounds (lbs): 110 lbs, described as thin or slender, and looks petite in her photos. She would be underweight by BMI standards.

Ethnicity: Indigenous. Pale to slightly swarthy appearance in photos.

Hair color: Brown

Eye Color: Brown

Scar or distinctive characteristic: Tattoos (1) Left Foot, A bird carrying a ribbon with text "THIS TOO SHALL PASS" (2) Left Ankle, A heart.

Link to Government Source: 2024054239 (right click to open)

Websleuths discussion page: Juanita Migwans (right click to open)

Clothing: Dark-colored pants, light-colored jacket.

MP's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089106086509 and https://www.facebook.com/jjjhgdxc

DOB: December 18th, 1993

Commentary and Research

By: Shane Lambert

Original time of writing: January 31st, 2025, updates in March 2025

There was an update this case in April 2026, involving increased reward money and leads that could not be disclosed: see Sudbury.com.

Please note, this is a case with evolving details. As for information accuracy, the only guarantee is that I will try my best, source, and revisit with updates from time-to-time.

Has Juanita Migwans been found?

Juanita Migwans went missing on October 4th, 2024. As of March 24th, 2025, she remains missing.

In recent news at the time of writing, there was a significant reward related to her case. According to a recent CTV News article, "The Ontario Government is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the disappearance of Juanita Migwans as United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Police Service Commission (UCCM Police) Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) continue their search efforts."

The way the above quotation reads, it sounds as though foul play is suspected. In a more official statement, the police said foul play was not ruled out.

Juanita Migwans went missing from an Indian reserve on Manitoulin Island. This island stands out as the largest island in the world that is in a lake (Lake Huron).

She was last seen on Riverside Drive on the reserve. This is a short segment of roadway. It's not clear what time of day she was last seen or which direction she was heading by the news coverage.

What stands out in this case, is she did not have a phone, bank card, or ID with her when she disappeared. This has some implications. For instance, it would imply that she was not planning on leaving Manitoulin Island. She has not done any banking transactions since September 25th, 2024, which was nine days before her last sighting.

Furthermore, according to news in late March 2025, this individual has uncollected money. This latter point would be ominous based on several other cases involving uncollected money.

There was a previous sighting of her that has been reported in some sources. Some early sources back in November state that she was last seen on October 2nd, 2024 at 10:30am at the intersection of Highway 551 and Oakhill Drive. The latter citing, of October 4th, has been described as a phone call in some sources. I 

There is a social media source that states that she was involved in a court case.

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Juanita Migwans Case Update: March 19th, 2025 Developments

As of March 19th, 2025, Juanita "Winnie" Migwans remains missing, but her case has gained significant traction. An update from The Manitoulin Expositor (Jacqueline St.Pierre), reveals that a community-driven billboard campaign was launched to keep her disappearance in the spotlight.

The first billboard went up on Highway 17 on March 14th, 2025, costing $3,500, with a $100,000 reward now offered. This doubled the $50,000 noted earlier. This escalation underscores rising urgency six months after she vanished from M’Chigeeng First Nation on October 4th, 2024.

The March 19th update also ties Juanita’s case to the broader Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis. "Missing and murdered aboriginal women" is a tag I use on my blog (which you are looking at right now). You can click the tag if you are interested in other cases involving missing Aboriginal women in Canada.

Credit to St.Pierre and The Manitoulin Expositor for illuminating the billboard effort.

Juanita Migwans Case Update: March 24th, 2025 Developments

As of today, March 24th, 2025, Juanita "Winnie" Migwans remains missing nearly six months after her disappearance on October 4th, 2024. A recent article by Kenneth Armstrong at SooToday.com provides new details on the ongoing efforts to find her. Here’s what’s happening:

• Her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for three additional billboards—planned for Hwy. 17 between Espanola and Sault Ste. Marie, between Espanola and Sudbury, and Hwy. 69 north of Parry Sound—building on an existing billboard on Manitoulin Island. As of late March 24th, this campaign had raised $5822. Please consider supporting it, noting that even small donations from a lot of people can help them achieve their goals.
• The article from Kenneth Amstrong says that funds from a Robinson-Huron Treaty settlement remain untouched. I will comment on this shortly.
• Despite exhaustive searches by Tribal Police and the OPP, no leads have surfaced, prompting volunteer Peggy Simon to speculate about foul play or sex trafficking.
• Migwans’ case continues to rally her community, who hope the expanded billboard campaign will yield answers.

Credit to Kenneth Armstrong at SooToday.com for this detailed reporting.

Uncollected Money: Often Considered a Major Flag

I have been writing about missing person mysteries for a decade now with research on numerous cases. Uncollected money is often a major flag. In some cases in the past, I know police have considered substantial amounts of uncollected money to strongly suggest that a missing person is deceased.

Migwans' case was serious from the start but that she did not collect her treaty money, as reported in the Armstrong article, is very convincing to me that this is not a voluntary disappearance. I don't think many people are looking at this mystery feeling like she was missing voluntarily but her failure to collect the treaty money should put to bed any notion of a voluntary disappearance.

From what I gathered, the reserve won a settlement and there have been incremental payments made to band members over time. It must be one of these incremental payments that she did not collect.

The "uncollected money" circumstance is one I am trying to build on at my blog. The current posts associated with this theme can be found here.

GoFundMe Campaign Aims to Raise Funds for Awareness

The GoFundMe campaign, titled "Bring Juanita (Winnie) Home - awareness through billboards," organized by Mary-Ann Ashcroft, has raised $5,822 of its $15,000 goal as of the latest update.

This effort underscores the community's determination to keep Juanita's story visible while seeking answers to her disappearance. Furthermore, the diversity of the donors shows that there is a broader concern for her well-being.

Robert Pickton Documentary: Canada's Worst Serial Killer

Author: Shane Lambert

Original time of writing: May 5th, 2024 | Updated: August 22, 2025

Exploring Robert Pickton’s Crimes Through a Gripping Documentary

If you’re searching for a compelling online documentary about Robert Pickton, the notorious Canadian serial killer who targeted women from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, look no further than The Infographics Show on YouTube. Their episode, titled “The Pig Farmer - Canada’s Most EVIL Serial Killer,” was published on November 7th, 2023, and has garnered over 1,000,000 views as of August 2025. This 34-35-minute documentary offers a detailed look into Pickton’s life and crimes, making it a must-watch for true crime enthusiasts.

A Deep Dive into Pickton’s Troubled Life

The documentary traces Pickton’s early years on a farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, where he endured abuse and mental trauma. It highlights his struggles as a social outcast among peers, setting the stage for his descent into one of Canada’s most infamous serial killers.

The animated narrative, interspersed with real-life photos, effectively conveys the chilling progression of his crimes, which involved the murder of at least 26 women, many of whom were sex workers from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Pickton was convicted in 2007 of six counts of second-degree murder, though he confessed to an undercover officer that he killed 49 women.

Critical Perspective on Police Handling

A central theme of the documentary is the Vancouver Police Department’s mishandling of the missing women cases. It critiques the systemic bias and negligence that delayed Pickton’s capture, as the disappearances of sex workers were often dismissed.

This perspective aligns with findings from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, which highlighted “blatant failures” in police investigations, including ignored warnings from a geographic profiler in 1997. After watching, viewers gain a sobering understanding of how societal indifference contributed to the tragedy.

Is There a Movie About Robert Pickton?

While there’s no feature film about Robert Pickton that I’m aware of, online documentaries like this one fill the gap. The Infographics Show’s episode stands out with its well-written narrative and engaging animation, complemented by real-life images of key figures in the case. It strikes a balance between informative storytelling and visual appeal, making it accessible to a wide audience. However, it was published in the months before Pickton's death so details about the end of his life are not in the documentary.

Recent Developments in the Pickton Case: Death in Prison

In May 2024, Robert Pickton was attacked in a Quebec prison and died from his injuries, as reported by CTV News and other sources. This event marked the end of a dark chapter, but it also reignited discussions about justice for his victims. Families of the victims expressed mixed emotions, with some feeling closure and others believing his death prevented further answers.

You see this kind of division a lot when a serial killer dies. People don't necessarily shed tears but they realize that the murderer took answers to important questions to the grave.

Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: A Troubled Area

Having lived in Greater Vancouver for about five years, including a month in a hotel in the East Hastings area, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Known as one of Canada’s most troubled neighborhoods, it’s marked by homelessness and poverty, exacerbated by the city’s mild winter climate compared to cities like Edmonton or Montreal. The documentary underscores how this destitute environment, coupled with societal neglect, allowed Pickton to target vulnerable women for years. It’s a stark reminder of the need for systemic change to protect marginalized communities.

Why This Documentary Matters

This documentary not only recounts Pickton’s heinous crimes but also sheds light on the broader social and institutional failures that enabled them. It’s a compelling watch for those interested in true crime, Canadian history, or social justice issues. By combining factual storytelling with critical analysis, it leaves viewers with a deeper understanding of the case and its lasting impact.

Lorelee Sue Lhotka -- Missing Since 1975 in Washington state

Details from NamUs**: 

Reported to have left home for a doctor's appointment. Supposed to take the bus, but would also hitchhike. Wallet found in Wenatchee National Forest in 1978 at the Blewett Pass.

Missing Person: Lorelee Sue Lhotka
Last-contact date: 1975, possibly in early February
The area where the MP was last seen: Seattle, Washington
Link to government source: NamUs MP#6849

---

VITAL DETAILS

Ethnicity: Uncertain, but she is listed among missing Indigenous people in Washington state
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 19 years old

Birthdate: Might have been June 27th, 1957
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Scar: No scars known
Height/weight: 5'3" and 120 pounds
BMI*: Lorelee Sue Lhotka was in the normal range for BMI.
Tattoos: Lorelee Sue Lhotka had no tattoos associated with her profiles. If you know that the missing person did have tattoos, please post a remark at the end of this blog post.

Lorelee Sue Lhotka was last heard from on January 1st, 1975 when she was 19 years of age according to her NamUs profile. However, it should be noted that dates of January 1st in NamUs often refer to an unspecified time of the year.

On this matter, I found one source that said she was last heard from on February 1st of that year. This individual has now been missing for over 50 years. 

I did not find any media coverage with her case at Newspapers.com. I did find a divorce record for a "Lorelee S. Lhotka" dated to December 22nd, 1977.

It was in Washington but I can't be sure it's regarding the missing person, however, I think it was. It was filed by the husband and might be a divorce in absentia. The place of the divorce was Mason, Washington. Her address might have been near Rainer Avenue S. and 57th Avenue S. in Seattle.

One task with this case is to find out what her alias of Spamola refers to. It seems that her maiden name might have been Davis. Furthermore, the pinpoint location of where her wallet was found in 1978 would be very interesting. I found a source that said it was found in the Blewett Pass (Google Maps).

Lastly, this missing person should be looked at concerning all Jane Does that come out of the Wenatchee area that are estimated to have died around 1975.

What stands out with this case was that her wallet was found at Blewett Pass and she was known to hitchhike.

Tags that I've associated with this blog post are below. It's interesting to see what can connect unrelated cases. Click one of the tags to go to an article that is related to this one in some way, shape, or form.

Author: S.K. Lambert (Blogger Hobbyist and Freelance Writer)

All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

S.K. Lambert (Blogger Hobbyist and Freelance Writer) is not a Private Investigator, however, he is currently studying to be one as of March 2021.

Website hashtag: #MPCSL

*For BMI values, I use the UPPER or HIGHER ranges that are given for height and weight.
**Text might be paraphrased. If taken verbatim, then grammar or spelling errors are not necessarily corrected from original sources.
Disclaimer: Whenever possible, government sources are preferred for getting the details of a missing person's case. However, any source that the article writer deems reputable may be used.

Abigail Patrice Andrews -- Missing From Fort St. John Since April 2010

Author: Shane Lambert
Original Time of Writing: January 10th, 2021
All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

Missing person: Abigail Patrice Andrews
Last-seen date: Evening-time on April 7th, 2010 (Wednesday) (about 6pm by one source but there was a phone call an hour later)
Last-seen location: She was last seen in Fort St. John's walking from her apartment on 99th avenue toward a friend's house on 98th avenue; she used 94th street
Link to Government Source: Canada's Missing 2013000114
Ethnicity/Race: White looking but was Metis (mixed aboriginal and white)
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 28 years old (b. 1982)    
Hair: Brown/dark brown, shoulder-length/long
Eye color: Hazel
Height and weight at the time of disappearance: 6'0" and 201 lbs
Personal effects: Pink blackberry cellular, GUESS brand purse that was leather and purple/lavender/mauve

Other: she was about three months pregnant at the time of her disappearance but not yet showing

Tattoo: Lower Back, Tribal Art

Foreign Object: Chest, Surgical implants (serial numbers available)

Deformity: Right Index Finger, Previously broken and healed in a deformed position

Teeth: Good, used a dental-pallet retainer

Bank card: not used since the time of her disappearance

Facebook group: Abigail Andrews missing person's Facebook group

Abigail Patrice Andrews went missing on April 7th, 2010 in Fort St. John, a small city in central BC but closer to the Alberta side of the province. Her brother received text messages on the night of her disappearance but those that knew her did not think that the messages came from her. There's a suggestion in this case, that someone was in control of her phone and sent out communications in order to befuddle the facts of her disappearance.

In the journalism that was very early for this missing person's case, Abigail Patrice Andrews is considered dead. Her family reported her missing to the police on April 9th.

In the snipping below, the "Andrews" that is cited is her father. Mr. Andrews also said that the people she associated with lead to her downfall. The two places she worked, according to her profile at Canada's Missing, were FSJ Fashions and The Frontier Bar and Grill. Mr. Andrews did not seem to think that the latter was a healthy environment.

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 – 11 · The Province (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) · Newspapers.com

The RCMP searched the landfill for her remains, according to an April 15th, 2010 article in The Province. They did not name a suspect at that time but the father, in particular, seemed to think there was only one. In news from 2013, I did find that the RCMP had a suspect but he was not named.

Thu, Apr 15, 2010 – 16 · The Province (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) · Newspapers.com

A re-enactment was performed in 2013. It doesn't show much except an actress walking on the street. However, it provides a backdrop for the discussion of the case with family members and RCMP making statements in the Youtube video.

Shelly Tannis Dene: Missing Edmonton Woman Since 2013

Author: Shane Lambert
Original Time of Writing: January 6th, 2021; second look on August 22nd, 2026.

Shelly Tannis Dene: Missing Person from Edmonton

Shelly Dene. Appears to be a selfie of her last Facebook post from May 17th, 2013.

Missing Person

Missing person: Shelly Tannis Dene
Last-seen date: Not clear -- one report said July 2013, but there is a text message in late August that is mentioned.
Last-seen location: Edmonton, Alberta, I think at her grandmother's house near 114th street and 102nd avenue, which would be the Oliver area.

Last communication: A text exchange with her sister around mid-July 2013 appears to have been her last known communication with family. 
Link to Government Source: Case 2014006306
Ethnicity/Race: Aboriginal (of the Fort McKay First Nation)

Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: Click the tag "missing and murdered aboriginal women" to see all the relevant cases at this website
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 25 years old
Hair: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Height and weight at the time of disappearance: 5'7" and 110 pounds
Scar: right cheek according to Canada's Missing; however, in a YouTube video I watched, the scar(s) may have been on the left side of her face; they are from a dog bite.

Disappearance and Missing Person Report

Shelly Dene was last seen in the summer of 2013. However, she was not reported missing until November 8th of that year after her phone became disconnected (Facebook post: Missing People of Canada).

The reported disconnection of the phone as of November 8th does not mean she was active with her phone in the days prior to that. Phone-service disconnection is a process that could take weeks or months, with bill non-payment being one reason or prepaid services not being renewed being another. But you can't really tell exactly when she was active with her phone by a disconnection date. 

This is a case involving a lot of activism on the part of some of those who knew her. In fact, I lived in Edmonton from 2014 to 2015, and I remember seeing her missing-person posters around the downtown area. 

Shelly Dene's Move to Edmonton

She had only moved to Edmonton in 2013 (perhaps around May or June), and she had a residency previously in Kelowna. At other times in her life, she lived in Fort McMurray, Fort McKay, and Vernon. This is an important detail, I think, because Shelly was a person who seemed to relocate a lot.

Custody, Family and Her Last Communication

A detail that is treated as important in her mystery is that in the months or weeks prior to her last communication, she had learned that she would not be getting custody of her child back. Reportedly, this wasn't good for her emotional well-being. In the following excerpt from an Edmonton Journal article, "Candice" refers to Shelly's sister and "Yvonne" refers to Shelly's mother. In what I believe is Shelly's last-known communication, she indicated that she was going to the Yukon.

Mon, May 11, 2015 – 4 · Edmonton Journal (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) · Newspapers.com

The Red Truck and Possible Yukon Trip

The balance of the picture I got when reading about this case was that Shelly may have been heading to the Yukon in a red truck with a man who was of First Nations descent. However, the red truck and its relationship to Shelly isn't perfectly clear as an established fact in the mystery of her disappearance. This is like a lot of missing persons mysteries, where a detail is mentioned but that detail's relationship to the mystery is not established.

Wed, Aug 27, 2014 – 2 · Whitehorse Daily Star (Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada) · Newspapers.com

          

Yet, someone traveling from Edmonton to the Yukon using the highway would likely head west on the Yellowhead Highway. After that, there are two ways to go: one through Whitecourt and Grande Prairie or one through Grand Cache and Grande Prairie. That she may have been traveling with a man with a vehicle seems to reduce the chances of her using hitchhiking; however, the red truck is an ambiguous factor in this mystery.

Other Mysteries Involving a Red Truck 

I found some other mysteries involving red trucks that I think are worth mentioning. I am not suggesting that these cases are related to Shelly Dene's disappearance, and the similarities should not be treated as evidence of a connection. Rather, I think that tenuous connections can sometimes be worth exploring, particularly when a case remains unsolved. If any of the following mysteries are eventually resolved or produce new information, it may be interesting to see whether any of that information happens to be relevant to Shelly Dene's case as well. At this point, however, these are simply investigative possibilities, not established connections.

Shooting of Mohamed Nagiel Saddek Nagem

Another unsolved mystery involving a red truck that I found that, in my opinion, is worth mentioning has to do with a 2017 unsolved murder as covered at Homicidecanada.com. I don't have any reason to believe this mystery was solved either.

A Surrey man was shot while in the Yukon, near Whitehorse, and a red truck was seen leaving the scene. Whether the two mysteries, Shelly's and the 2017 shooting, are related is very hard to establish, in my opinion. There are certainly going to be a lot of red trucks, even in a city as small as Whitehorse. So, this is only a case to be aware of but not one with a concrete connection.

I think anyone looking at Shelly's mystery could conduct a periodic search to see if this 2017 mystery gets solved or generates a lead (or you can call my attention to it and I will have a look). Basically, you want to see if the shooting of Mohamed Nagiel Saddek Nagem has a lead or has been solved.

For example, if the shooter does get identified, he could also be looked at regarding his whereabouts in 2013 and if he owned a red truck at that time as well. This kind of lead is, in fact, tenuous, but when these mysteries go unsolved for so long, it's often these tenuous leads that amateurs are left with.

"Whitehorse RCMP responded to a reported shooting in Porter Creek, at the area of Alaska Highway and Wann Road on September 20th at approximately 6:40pm.

Police said two vehicles were involved in the incident. Police said the vehicle driven by the victim was in close proximity to what they believe was a red pick up truck. The person in the red truck fired several times injuring the driver of the other vehicle, before fleeing the scene.

The 25 year old victim was rushed to hospital where he died of his injuries on September 21st." (Lee Jordan, September 24, 2017)

Disappearance of Amber Rose Marie Guiboche

Amber disappeared in Winnipeg on the night of November 10th, 2010. Like Shelly, Amber was an Aboriginal woman. Like Shelly, a red truck has been associated with the mystery, as Amber was last seen getting into a red truck by one source I found. But another source describes the truck as burgundy. Also, the truck driver was described as Caucasian.

Possible Abduction News From 2022 Involving a Red Truck

A Global News article from Alberta describes a red truck in relation to a "possible abduction" at Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta.

Unanswered Questions in the Case

All leads, in this case, appear to be tenuous. If you read the journalism in an effort to get an inkling of what happened to Shelly, at some points you might think suicide is relevant because she had a history of substance use. Furthermore, she seemed to be, at least, upset or disappointed at the time of her disappearance over not having custody of her child. 

There is a possible text message that Shelly may have sent her sister before she disappeared (August 28th, 2013) that is mentioned in relation to this mystery. This message is described as one in which Shelly answered in the negative when Candice asked if she was okay. In my opinion, that negative response is really hard to ignore.

The Man With the Red Truck

Another circumstance, in this case, is just who exactly the man was she was seen with -- the man with the red truck. Shelly's case has received some news exposure. 

Did Shelly and the man go to the Yukon together? Is he missing too? The person who saw him says he was wearing beige clothes, and she wondered if he might have been a Truck Driver by profession. Was the red truck actually a rig?

A Potential Lead Through Another Missing Person Case

A break, in this case, would be if someone ever came across a missing person's report involving an Aboriginal man in western Canada who was last known to be driving a red truck before he disappeared in 2013. Sometimes, when people use the highway, they go off the highway.

Considering that angle, if Shelly disappeared with the man she was last seen with, then his case file might generate a lead. Keep an Aboriginal male with a red truck in mind if you are among those who peruse through missing people reports.

The Search for Shelly Dene

But, to be honest, there is not much to go on for Shelly. Assuming that she went to the Yukon, then the area that this search covers is immense, as the trip from Edmonton to Whitehorse is 22 hours or so. At present, I would have to say that the chances of an amateur or websleuth providing a useful lead in this case are low.