Drones and foot patrols have been used in an ongoing search for a 41-year-old woman who went missing in Thunder Bay’s south core more than a week ago, city police say.
Police, along with family members of Deborah Anishinabie — described as a “mother and an aunt” — renewed on Friday pleas to the public to help locate her.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation, ” a Thunder Bay Police Service news release said.
“Investigators have spoken to potential witnesses, patrolled areas of interest, and canvassed for surveillance footage,” it added. “Drones have also been utilized to assist with the search efforts.”
Police held a news conference about Anishinabie’s disappearance on Friday afternoon at Sandy Lake First Nation’s Thunder Bay office on Cumberland Street North.
Police said Anishinabie is originally from Sandy Lake, a remote community located about 225 kilometres northeast of the Municipality of Red Lake.
She is described by police as Indigenous, just over five-feet tall and 180 pounds, with long black hair and brown eyes. She has a star tattoo on her left shoulder and several smaller tattoos on her arms, police said.
On Thursday this week, organizers of a candlelight vigil for Anishinabie that took place on Simpson Street described her on a social-media post as “someone deeply loved by all who know her.”
According to police, Anishinabie was last seen on the early morning of Dec. 5 in the 100 block of Simpson Street.
Police have asked people who frequent Thunder Bay’s south and eastern sections, “particularly in areas between Simpson Street, May Street, and Northern Avenue,” to check buildings and lane ways..
“Residents in these areas are also asked to review any home or business surveillance camera footage,” police said.
“Anyone driving in this area during the early morning hours of Dec. 5 who captured dash camera video is also asked to review that footage,” police added.
Anyone with information can contact city police by calling 807-684-1200, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
