Nova Scotia

Loretta Saunders's car found in Harrow, Ont., 2 arrested

Ontario police have found the car of a missing Halifax woman and are now treating her disappearance as suspicious.

Disappearance now considered 'suspicious' by police

Loretta Saunders, 26, was reported missing on Monday. She was last seen Thursday evening. (Halifax Regional Police)

Ontario police have found the car of a missing Halifax woman and are treating her disappearance as suspicious.

Halifax police said a man and a woman who were travelling in the car in Harrow, Ont., were arrested for being in possession of a stolen vehicle Tuesday night.

Blake Leggette, 25, and Victoria Henneberry, 28, appeared by video in Windsor provincial court on Wednesday. Both have been remanded into custody and are scheduled to appear in court on Friday, again via video.

Halifax Regional Police Const. Pierre Bourdages said the pair had outstanding warrants in Halifax and Calgary.

Loretta Saunders, 26, who is three-months pregnant, hasn’t been seen since last Thursday night.

Bourdages said Leggette and Henneberry know Saunders.

"This file has now been transferred over to the major crime unit given the suspicious nature of the investigation," the officer said. "Investigators are still looking for any sightings of Loretta."

Saunders, an Inuit woman from Newfoundland and Labrador, is a student at Saint Mary's University. Her thesis focuses on missing and murdered aboriginal women, making her disappearance a surreal irony for her family.

Her sister, Delilah Saunders, said she last contacted Loretta by text on Friday, Valentine’s Day, but the only reply she received was a brief “Hey."

Loretta is described as fair skinned, 5-7", weighing 120 pounds, with straight light brown hair.

Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).