RCMP call on public in search for missing teen

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This article was published 20/08/2020 (2221 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba police say they aren’t yet ready to declare foul play in the case of 16-year-old Tammy Nattaway, who has been missing from Garden Hill First Nation for more than a month.

“Right now, we’re treating this as a missing person investigation. We don’t believe any foul play is involved, we’re hoping we get information that’ll lead to her being found safely,” RCMP media relations officer Sgt. Paul Manaigre said at a news conference Thursday.

Tammy was last seen by a family member July 20, and Manaigre said police have little information on the six-day gap between that date and when she was first reported missing July 14.

The Manitoba community some 500 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg is only accessible by air, and police have reviewed all passengers flying out of the Island Lake area, which includes Garden Hill and nearby Wasagamack and St. Theresa Point First Nations.

Manaigre said while police believe Tammy is still in the Island Lake region, it is possible she managed to travel by plane into Winnipeg.

“Someone must know where she is, or where she went, we need them to come forward and help,” he said.

The RCMP detachment is still investigating. A search team consisting of RCMP and community members had previously done a ground search in the Garden Hill area, which Manaigre said is difficult to navigate.

“After conducting a ground search in Garden Hill, we have a territory that is vast, with varying degrees of dense brush, tall grasses and a lot of waterways, it’s a very challenging territory for searchers,” he said. “Which is kind of why we spent approximately 25, 30 hours on the ground just in Garden Hill alone.”

Included in the search is the Manitoba RCMP underwater recovery team, specialized underwater cameras to explore local waterways, and helicopters for aerial views of communities and surrounding areas.

Tammy Nattaway is described as five-foot, with a thin build, short black hair and brown eyes.

Manitoba RCMP have said new information is required to move the investigation forward, and a $5,000 reward is being offered by Garden Hill First Nation.

Anyone with information on the disappearance should call Island Lake RCMP at 204-456-2626, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or leave a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_