The mother of a Japanese student who mysteriously vanished in Burnaby more than a week ago spoke to CTV News Friday night, pleading for help.
“We need everybody's help,” said Emiko Kogawa, speaking through an interpreter from Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan. “[We] want to, need to find [our] daughter as soon as possible."
Kogawa says her daughter Natsumi Kogawa last texted her on Sept. 7 – and no one has seen her since.
The 30-year-old was reported missing to the Vancouver Police Department on Sept. 12, but the case has since been handed over to Burnaby Mounties as her last known location was at her home in their jurisdiction.
“We don't know what to believe because there's so much information, we are confused," added Kogawa, breaking into tears as she described how tough it’s been for their family to see their daughter’s photo and story on Japanese media.
Japanese news crews are also in the Lower Mainland looking for answers.
Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Major John Buis urged anyone with any information at all on Kogawa or her whereabouts to come forward and assist with their investigation.
“We are concerned. We are giving it a priority and we have a number of police officers investigating this,” Buis said.
Mounties said it’s not unusual for Kogawa to go away for a couple days without telling people, but she has never left for this long.
“This is the longest period of time that she’s not contacted family,” Buis said.
Kogawa’s friend, Jay Vergara, said the missing woman was studying English at Kaplan International English School in Vancouver.
Vergara told CTV News that Kogawa messaged another friend on the morning of Sept. 8 to make plans to meet with him later that day.
He said Kogawa didn’t show up for the meeting and has not been responding to calls and text messages from her friends.
“I’m incredibly concerned,” he told CTV News. “I really hope for her safe return.”
Her mother is hoping anyone with evidence will call investigators and is begging people to have a good look at photos.
“We just want one hope, we just want our daughter back, returned and healthy as soon as possible,” she said.
Kogawa is described as being five feet tall, 100 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. Police don’t know what kind of clothing she was wearing when she went missing.
Anyone who can help with the RCMP’s investigation is asked to contact the Burnaby detachment at 604-294-7922, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS to remain anonymous.
With files from CTV Vancouver’s Penny Daflos
