Abbotsford family pleads for answers on 5-year anniversary of daughter's disappearance
An Abbotsford family is renewing their plea for help to find their missing daughter on the five-year anniversary of her disappearance.
Kristina Ward was last seen in Surrey on Sept. 27, 2017, walking with a man that police have never been able to identify.
Surveillance video taken near 144th Street and 104th Avenue sometime between 7:50 and 8:45 p.m. shows the then 20-year-old walking behind a man with a bike.
Police hope someone will be able to identify him.
“Police encourage everyone to view the video. Unfortunately, it is taken from quite a distance, however you may be familiar with the gait or mannerisms of the male walking with Kristina,” said RCMP in a news release two years after her disappearance.
Her mother, Lee Anne Ward, said her daughter had plans to meet up with some friends in Langley the day she vanished.
“It's painful to keep on going on and not knowing anything,” Lee Anne said.
It’s unclear how she ended up in Surrey and her phone and bank account have had no activity since then.
“Investigators have received several ‘tips’ relating to Kristina but unfortunately, none have proven fruitful,” said Cpl. Holly Largy, of Langley RCMP in a news release.
Art Ward, Kristina's father, also said they've received many "phony tips."
“That gets our hopes up a little bit and then we’re shot down. But somebody knows where Kristina is,” he said.
Kristina is now 25-years-old, but has the mental capacity of someone far younger.
She is described as Indigenous, 5'5", 130 pounds, with curly brown hair, and brown eyes.
Her mother told CTV News back in 2019 she believes her daughter was misled and was abducted.
She and other loved ones are hosting their second annual walk through the area Ward was last seen on Tuesday morning.
“The good Lord gives us hope. It says on my hat, God is good all the time. Doesn't let us down. He prolongs things, but doesn’t let us down," Kristina's father said.
The family is hoping to spark people’s memories and get more information about what happened to her.
“We are pleading to the public for tips to bring closure to the family and to bring Kristina back home, as she has a five-month old niece named after her, waiting at home to meet her auntie,” said Lee Anne Ward in a statement released by RCMP.
Baby Kristina’s mother, Jessica, was overcome with emotion during Tuesday’s walk.
She made a sign for her stroller reading “Please help find my Auntie Kristina Ward” covered with small pink hand prints.
She told CTV News Vancouver she believes the two Kristinas would be best friends.
“I know she’d be a good auntie,” she said.
Jessica spent 10 years on the Downtown Eastside, but has since been reunited with her family.
The Wards hope they’ll be able to have the same homecoming with their other daughter.
Kristina’s name has been added to the database list of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Anyone with information that might assist in locating Ward is asked to call Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.