Thelma Krull memorial found vandalized

The small memorial forThelmaKrullat Kimberly Hill behindKildonan-East Collegiate has been vandalized.

A picture frame and purple flowers placed on the site to remember the 57-year-old woman were discovered strewn on the ground Wednesday.

• Thelma Krull search: Reward for information reaches $20K

• Thelma Krull's family remains hopeful she'll be found

"It was disheartening to know someone vandalized the only thing we have right now to symbolize this spot and keep people thinking," said Connie Muscat, a friend and co-worker of Krull. Muscat said she and the family plan to set up another memorial.

"We will not let one incident stop us from getting the word out and making sure Thelma's face is up for people to see," Muscat said.

Krull has been missing since the morning of July 11.She was last seen at her home in the north part of Transcona as she set off for a hike near Chief Peguis Trail.

As each daypasses, Krull'sdisappearance does not get any easier to accept, said Muscatin fact, as time passes, it gets more difficult.

"Then you wake up in the morning and it all starts again," she said.

"We're hoping that still any day we're going to get a tip. We know somebody saw something."

Policediscovered Krull's eyeglasses on the grounds of the Valley Gardens Community Centre, adjacent to Kildonan-East Collegiate,and received hundreds of tips from the public about Krull's disappearance. Still the case remains a mystery.

"[Police] are working this case really hard and we do trust them. But ...the police can't get very far without our tips, without our help.... It's on all of us to step up," Muscat said.

Krull's daughter, Lisa Besser, has been distributing ribbons in her mother's favourite colour purple to encourage people to continue thinking about her.

A $20,000 reward has been created for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to Krull's discovery.

"We still strongly believe the community is the only thing that can help us right now ... and also protect other members of the community from this happening to them," said Muscat.

People with tips or information about Krull are asked to call investigators at (204) 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-TIPS (8477).