Family fears the worst for Winnipeg woman, missing 3 months

The family of Claudette Osborne held a vigil in Winnipeg Friday to mark the third month since the 21-year-old woman went missing.

Osborne, who also goes by the name Penny, was last seen July 24 in the area of Selkirk Avenue and Charles Street, in the city's North End neighbourhood.

Family members gathered at the Manitoba legislature at noon on Friday.

"I'm fearing for the worst," said her sister, Tina Osborne. "I don't want to fear for the worst, but it's been three months. We don't know where she is. It's not like her to just go out and not call anybody."

Osborne's family has acknowledged that she lived a troubled life. A young mother of four children, she became addicted to drugs and worked in the sex trade.

She had given birth and lost custody of a baby shortly before she disappeared, Osborne said.

Osborne last heard from her sister in a series of worrying telephone messages left on her machine in July. She believes her sister may have been with a "john" and ran into trouble.

Winnipeg police continue to investigate the case.

Osborne is described as five-foot-seven, weighing about 145 pounds. She has long, black hair and was last seen wearing black pinstriped pants and a black V-necked T-shirt with a ruffled collar.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the missing persons unit at (204) 986-6050 or the police non-emergency line at (204) 986-6222.