Mounties to provide new details in search for missing Vancouver Island woman

Amber Manthorne is described as a white woman with a slim build who stands roughly five feet tall with blonde hair. (Facebook/Amber Dawn Grace)

Mounties are expected to release new details Wednesday about their investigation into the disappearance of Amber Manthorne, who was reported missing on Vancouver Island more than two years ago.

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit was called to assist in the search shortly after the 40-year-old woman disappeared from Port Alberni on July 7, 2022.

Her vehicle, a white 2021 Jeep Compass, was found abandoned on the side of a logging road south of Nanaimo two days later.

Manthorne was initially believed to be in the company of an ex-boyfriend, whom she had told friends she was going to meet with on the day she vanished, but he was later located by police who determined Manthorne was not with him.

"We understand that it may be concerning to hear that the VIIMCU has been called to assist," said Insp. Kevin O’Donnell, the officer in charge of the major crimes unit, one week after Manthorne was reported missing.

"However, we want to assure the community that this is not unusual in cases where a person’s disappearance is out of character and criminality cannot be immediately ruled out."

'Absolutely not like her'

Shortly after her disappearance, a friend told CTV News that Manthorne was scheduled to be the maid of honour at a friend's wedding later that month. The wedding would eventually be postponed as friends and family focused instead on finding the missing woman.

Hundreds of volunteers distributed flyers and searched several areas Manthorne was known to frequent, as well as the area where her vehicle was located, but have found no sign of the woman.

"We are all very scared. This is absolutely not like her," friend Kristie St. Claire said one week after Manthorne's disappearance.

"The close network of friends that were attached to that wedding are just devastated about what's happening," she added. "It's affecting people in a large scale at this time, and deeply."

Sgt. Chet Carroll of the Port Alberni RCMP is expected to release new photos, videos and information related to Manthorne's disappearance on Wednesday morning, according to a statement from the local RCMP detachment.

Police say the search for the missing woman continues.

Manthorne is described as a white woman with a slim build who stands roughly five feet tall with blonde hair.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424.