Police probed 240 tips on Krull, but want more

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This article was published 11/07/2016 (3449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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After a full year in which police chased more than 240 leads about Thelma Krull without finding her, they are not giving up.

On Monday, the one-year anniversary of the day the 58-year-old grandmother went for a walk and disappeared from public view, police held a press conference and asked the public again to help.

Police also released new details on Monday, including confirmation that officers found her cell phone — a find they previously did not disclose.

“Despite receiving over 240 tips from members of the public, more information is still needed,” police said in a news release.

They also said on Monday she may have been abducted.

“Our belief is based on evidence we’ve gathered including evidence located at Civic Park, specifically items belonging to Thelma Krull. This includes her glasses, as we’ve previously released last summer, and we will also confirm at this point we have recovered her cell phone in this area,” said Sgt Wes Rommel of the Winnipeg Homicide Unit.

Krull left her residence at 7:23 a.m. on July 11, 2015, and walked to the area known as Civic Park, arriving at approximately 8 a.m.

Rommel described Krull as being in some type of “distress” at the park.

“Shortly after arriving (at Civic Park) Thelma experienced some type of distress. It is our belief that this distress was a result of either a medical situation she experienced or an encounter and ultimate abduction by an unknown individual,” he told reporters at the news conference.

Also new on Monday, police released surveillance photos of a woman seen in the area of Civic Park during the morning of the Thelma’s disappearance. Police are asking anyone who was in and around the area of Civic Park early that July 11 morning to come forward if they haven’t already contacted investigators.

“We still believe that someone out there has a critical piece of information that is needed to advance this investigation,” he said.

“I ask people who live in and around the area of Civic Park and the Valley Gardens area, if you have a suspicion or gut feeling about someone who lives in, works in or is somehow associated to this area, we want to hear about that.”

They’re also looking for a Caucasian couple in their 30’s in the area at the time and police released satellite images to identify the locations at or near Civic park where they were seen.

Lisa Besser, Krull’s daughter, described to the media the difficulty of not knowing what happened to her mother.

“A year ago our lives were completely turned around and changed. Somebody closest to me disappeared. A whole year has passed and we still have no idea what happened or why. It’s extremely hard not knowing if she’s coming home again or never again. Not knowing if she’ll be at another birthday party, Christmas, family event,” she said.

“There’s been no closure for our family. Only wonder, confusion and anger. People don’t just disappear.”

Krull’s husband, Bob Krull, had a message for Winnipeggers:

“The only thing I want to say is please someone help us. Help bring Thelma home.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at (204) 986-6508 or Crimestoppers at (204) 786-TIPS (8477).

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

bailey.hildebrand@freepress.mb.ca