Fort Frances OPP said the investigation into the disappearance of Melani Sutton is continuing pending positive identification of a body located yesterday morning in the bush about 80 km east of here.
A post-mortem examination on the body is scheduled for tomorrow in Kenora.
“The Melani Sutton case is a separate investigation at this time,” Cst. Cameron Howard noted this morning.
“And the reason for that is we have not identified the body found yesterday. The two investigations are parallel,” he stressed.
Cst. Howard noted the K-9 units and foot patrols are still active but added the Under Water Search and Recovery Unit that had arrived over the weekend has left town.
“They have a quite a backlog, and are very busy,” was his explanation.
Cst. Howard said police are working to keep the public informed on both cases.
“We will release any further information on either investigation once we get it. But at this time, we have nothing further to report,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Fort Frances High School principal Terry Ellwood said this morning staff have been busy dealing with students worried over yesterday’s late-breaking news of the discovery of a body.
“We have a crisis response team ready to mobilize at any time. Last night, we mobilized in anticipation of anxiety amongst students following the OPP press release,” Ellwood confirmed.
“Our aim is to reduce the negative effects of any of the unofficial information going around,” he added. “What we want to do is emphasize the fact that the police have not identified the body found yesterday as Melani.”
He noted several types of counselling are in place for students.
“Not only can students talk to a counsellor individually but we also have a ‘talk room,’ where students can go to be alone or to share their feelings with fellow students,” said Ellwood.
Teachers also have been forewarned that some students may be distracted during class.
“Melani has many friends here and this is in place for them,” Ellwood said.
Similar measures have been taken at the FFHS Alternative Education program on Walker Avenue, where Sutton was continuing her schooling.
Sutton, 18, has not been seen since the early-morning hours of March 11, shortly after leaving a local house party. She did not have a vehicle at the time of her disappearance.
Police have treated the case as suspicious because the sudden and unexpected disappearance was out of character for her.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
