6 cases of missing Manitoba women

Over the past two decades, 75 aboriginal women have gone missing in Manitoba, according to aboriginal groups.

Pressure from aboriginal groups led to thecreation of the Manitoba Integrated Task Force for Missing and Murdered Womenin 2009.

More than two years later, the commission continues to work on selected cases that show the greatest promise of being solved.

Earlier this year Winnipeg police Chief Keith McCaskill said so far the joint RCMP/Winnipeg Police task force had found no evidence of a serial killer.

Here are six of the some 80 cases that are still unsolved:

Jennifer Leigh Catcheway

Disappeared June 19, 2008, from Portage La Prairie,Man.

Catchewaywas planning to spend the day with her parents to celebrate her 18th birthday butnever showed up.

Shortly before her disappearance she phoned her mother from Grand Rapids. The family, joined by friends and members of the Manitoba Search and Rescue Association searched for her around Portage and Grand Rapids, but without success.

Catchewayis about 165 pounds andhasa small to medium build.

The RCMP continue to investigate and urge anyone with information about the case to contact them in Portage La Prairie at 204-857-4445 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Amber Lynn McFarland

Disappeared Oct. 18, 2008,from Portage La Prairie.

McFarland, who was24 when she disappeared, is described asfive feet and seven inchestall with blonde hair and a slender build.

She was last seen at the Cat and Fiddle Night Club, connected to the Midtown Motor Inn,wearing a black sweater and blue jeans.

Surveillance video from the vendor at themotor inn showed her with two men. Her empty car was found inthe parking lot.

ClaudettePricilla June Osborne

DisappearedJuly 24, 2008, from Winnipeg.

Osbornewas 21 in 2008 when she disappeared.

She was last seen at the Lincoln Hotel on McPhillips Street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. She had given birth two weeks before and may have been emotionally distraught over the seizure of her baby by Child and Family Services.

She was addicted to crack cocaine and was working as a prostitute at the time of her disappearance. Surveillance cameras show her leaving the hotel with a man around 2 a.m.

Jacqueline Stanicia

Disappeared Aug. 14, 2003, from Winnipeg.

Stanicia was 40 when she was last seen. She had beenstaying at her sisters residence on Des Meurons in Winnipeg's St. Boniface neighbourhood.

When her sister awoke, Stanicia was gone andhad left behind her medications.

Staniciahad bought a bus ticket for British Columbia, leaving the next week, but it was never used.

This was the first time thatStanicia had ever gone missing.

Sunshine Wood

Disappeared Feb. 20, 2004, from Winnipeg.

Wood moved to Winnipeg from Gods River First Nation to attend Gordon Bell High School.

Six months later, at age 16,she disappeared after leaving the St. Regis Hotel in downtown.

She was last seen standing with a number of other people front of the hotel.

Sylvia Ann Guiboche

Disappeared June 13, 2003, from Winnipeg.

Guiboche was eight to nine months pregnant when she disappeared at age 20.

She was working as a prostitute in the area of Sargent Avenue and Ellice Avenue in the West End area when she disappeared.

Her family reported her missing in October after not hearing from her for three months.

SOURCE: Manitoba Integrated Task Force for Missing and Murdered Women