An Indigenous teenager who left home a year ago hasn't been seen by her family since
An Indigenous teenage girl walked out of her home in May of last year, and hasn't been seen by her family since.
Police in Port Coquitlam, B.C., say Noelle O'Soup, who goes by Elli, walked out of her house on May 12, 2021.
She left around dinner time. She left "without permission," police said, not explaining further what that meant. When asked, Mounties said they couldn't speak to her exact living situation and repeated that she "did not have permission to leave."
Officers in the Metro Vancouver city say they want to know that she's safe. Her family is concerned.
It's unknown what happened to Elli, who is just 14.
Police described her as a "high-risk" missing person, but also said that she may be avoiding a wellness check from officers.
They said she's known to spend time throughout the Lower Mainland, including in Vancouver.
In the time since she's disappeared, police have put out advisories seeking information on her whereabouts, and in January released new photos, hoping for leads.
Officers said they were making the surveillance camera photos public in hopes of moving the investigation forward. They did not say whether they believe the person in the photos is Elli, or if they think the person is someone else with ties to her.
Mounties said Tuesday that the photos generated some new leads, which were "investigated thoroughly," but that the RCMP is still looking to contact that person "to determine if there is any connection to Elli."
It's been a year since Elli was reported missing, and Mounties said in a news release Tuesday that they've followed up on every tip but still haven't found her.
RCMP Cpl. Paige Kuz said in an email to CTV that her case has been a top priority, and that "dozens and dozens" of leads have been looked into. She said officers have used "all investigative avenues and techniques" available to those who work missing persons cases.
They're looking for more information from the public and say that "no call is too small" and "every bit of information is significant."
Elli is described as 5'6" and about 200 pounds with short black hair, but police note her appearance may have changed over the last year. She has scars on her forearms.
Police ask anyone with any information to contact the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously.
The RCMP estimates that between 70,000 and 80,000 people are reported missing each year in Canada, and says that most are found within seven days.
The most recent data available is from 2020. At that time, B.C. had the highest number of missing adult reports per capita at 239 per 100,000 people. The province did not have the highest rate of missing children and youth, but did see a total of 5,870 reports that year.
Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately represented in these reports.
According to the Assembly of First Nations, 11 per cent of missing females are Indigenous, despite Indigenous people only making up about 4.3 per cent of the population of Canada. The current data is believed to underrepresent the scale of the issue, the AFN says.
The RCMP said Indigenous women represent 10 per cent of cases in which a woman has been missing for at least 30 days, a statistic based on a 2015 report. Of those women, many were identified as missing "due to 'unknown' circumstances or foul play was suspected."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.