Missing woman Thelma Krull possibly spotted with man, police say

Winnipeg police are investigating a report that Thelma Krull, who has been missing since July 2015, may have been spotted with a "heavy-set man" in the East Kildonan area around the time she disappeared.

Investigators received a report of a possible sighting of the grandmother, who was 57 when she vanished, sometime after they issued another plea for assistance on the one-year anniversary of her disappearance.

Missing woman Thelma Krull possibly spotted with man, police say

8 years ago

Duration 1:39

Winnipeg police are investigating a report that Thelma Krull, who has been missing since July 2015, may have been spotted with a "heavy-set man" in the East Kildonan area around the time she disappeared.

It's alleged that a woman with a similar description was spottedon July 11, 2015 the dayKrullleft her home in the Valley Gardens area to go fora walk near Kimberly Avenue east of Gateway Road, "in the company of a heavy-set man" who was about five feet, eight inches tall, weighing 270 pounds, with a "bowl-style haircut," police said Wednesday.

"This information was brought to our attention as a result of the most recent news release that we did in July 2016, but the sighting itself goes back to the original disappearance date,"Const. JasonMichalyshentold reporters.

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It's not known whether the woman and man were walking or driving in the area, which was not far from the location where Krull was last seen.

Investigators hope releasing details of the possible sightingwill prompt people tocome forward with more tips, Michalyshen said.

"We haven't confirmed that this is Thelma. We've received this information and now we're at a point where we need more information," he said.

"Is this information relevant to move this investigation forward? Is this information that we need to act further on? Is this information that we need to dismiss and move on to something else?"

Winnipeg police: Thelma Krull possibly spotted with man

8 years ago

Duration 1:59

Winnipeg police are investigating a report that Thelma Krull, who has been missing since July 2015, may have been spotted with a "heavy-set man" in the East Kildonan area on the day she disappeared.

Anyone who may have information related to this possible sighting, including anyonewho may have provided informationin the past,is urged to contactinvestigators directlyat 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Krull'sdaughter, LisaBesser, issued a statement urging anyone with information about the possible sighting orher mother's whereabouts to call police.

• Read the family's full statement below

"I know the police take every lead seriously and no piece of info is too small,"Besserwrote. "Any tip could lead to breaking this huge mystery that plagues our family and friends, and even the city and the safety of [people] who livehere."

Krullhas neverbeen found, despite numerous searches by police, family and community members.Her glasses and cellphone were locateda few days after she vanished,in a park behind Kildonan East Collegiate.

Family memberssaidKrullhad gonefor a hikenear ChiefPeguisTrailbut she never came back.

Her disappearance hasstumped investigators, who have repeatedly asked the public forleads and possible witnesses overthe past 15 months.

The Winnipeg Police Service's homicide unit has been leading the Krull investigation, even though it's still considered a missing person case.

In July, policesaidtheir investigation had uncovered signs of distress, and they believe Krull either experienced a medical situation or she was abducted.

"We have not dismissed that possibility that we're talking about a potential abduction. We have not dismissed the fact that we're potentially talking about some sort of a medical emergency.All of those scenarios remain on the table," Michalyshen said Wednesday.

"I wish I could be standing before you and sharing more details. I wish I could be standing before you and acknowledging the resolution of this matter, but we're not there yet. We will be, but we're not there yet."

Family statement

Below is the full text of a statement by Lisa Besser, daughter of Thelma Krull:

We are begging for anyone and everyone to come forward to assist the police in finding my mom. As stated with today's release, there was a tip called in that someone believes to have seen my mom in the Gateway/Kimberly area. We don't [know] when that sighting was and that's why we need this person to come forward for more information. Until the police can talk to that person we don't know what this means to the case of my mom's disappearance.

I know the police take every lead seriously and no piece of info is too small. Any tip could lead to breaking this huge mystery that plagues our family and friends, and even the city and the safety of who lives here.

With every press release, Facebook post, news coverage we are hoping that we will eventually get that one person who can break this case.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of my mom and hope we can have her home with us. I used to talk to her and see her every couple of days. We're going on 15 months now with so much that has passed that I would love to tell her. Missing things like sending the picture of first day of school to getting that text to tell me it's the first snowfall and be careful cause the roads are slippery.

My family needs answers and we need the city of Winnipeg to help us.