Volunteers find possible clues to disappearance of Sindy Ruperthouse

Johnny Wylde's emotions ran the spectrum on Saturday, as dozens of volunteers poked sticks into the ground, searching along the sides of a path leading to a snowmobile trail in the Abitibi-Tmiscamingue region: fear, anxiety, doubt andsadness.

"It was very difficult," said Wylde."I was even asking myself if it was the right thing to do: What will happen if we find her?What will happen if we don't?"

Since his 44-year-old daughter SindyRuperthouse disappeared in April 2014, Wylde and his wife havetalked to a lot of people, trying to establish a timeline for theirdaughter's whereabouts.

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Because of one of those conversations,Wyldeasked for help to comb through a sparsely wooded area northwest of Val d'Or, about 600 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

The 61-year-old father of five says some people fishing on the Bourlamaque River remembered seeingsomeone linked to his daughter. Wylde believes that person is responsible for her disappearance.

Volunteers aid in search

"We found some clothing, a weapon and some bones which might, or might not, be related to the crime," said Raymond Ltourneau, the spokesman forTmiscamingueSearch and Rescue Volunteers, whose members supervised the 40 volunteers in last weekend's search effort.

Ltourneausaid the searchersestablished a grid to meticulously combthe borders of apath leading to snowmobile trails.

He said the volunteers whistled for their team leader each time they found something.

"Depending on what was found, we'd put it into a bag, identify it and note the geographic position. Or we [would leave] the clue at the site, takea photograph and write down the GPS location."

Ltourneausaidthe area looks like a place someone might have left a pile of wood, so it was relatively clear. He said it was about a 10-minute walk from Highway117, the main road running through the region.

"We were able to help, encourage and supportthe family," said Ltourneau. "That was our mission."

'Difficult'day for missing woman's family

Wyldestayed back at the command post for the day because it was too emotional for him to take part in the search.

He said he, his wife and one of their daughtersleft at the end of the day feeling drained. One of his grandchildren wanted to participatebut was too afraid of what he might find.

"We didn't feel good," said Wylde about the long day of waiting, but he said they're not giving up.

There are two other areas he wants to check out, but he's decided to wait until he and his family gather their strength again.

"It's long," Wylde said."Sometimes I think I'll never find her. Other times I wake up in the morning and I think this is the day I'll find her."

"It's very difficult, and I'm torn. I wonder sometimes if we'll make it."