Indigenous

Family of Indigenous woman missing from Vancouver area desperate to find her

The family and friends of a 27-year-old Indigenous woman missing for nearly three months are desperate to find her.

Police say Deanna Desjarlais, 27, last spotted in Vancouver area

After leaving Saskatoon, Deanna Desjarlais last spoke to her family from Vernon, B.C., in April 2016. Although police say she was seen in the Vancouver area, none of her family has heard from her. (Help Find Deanna Desjarlais Facebook page)

The family and friends of a 27-year-old Indigenous woman missing for nearly three months are desperate to find her.

Originally from Saskatoon, Deanna Desjarlais traveled to Vernon, B.C., in late April. That's the last time she contacted her family, according to friend Dana Morenstein.

However, a spokesperson from the Vancouver Police Department said Desjarlais was subsequently seen in Vancouver and Surrey, B.C.

"This is an active case," said Constable Brian Montague in an email to CBC News. "We continue to make inquiries and track her travels to determine where she may be and make contact with her so we can provide her family with information that she is OK." 

Morenstein set up a Facebook page seeking information on behalf of the missing woman's older sister, Felicity Desjarlais. Morenstein says it's unusual for Deanna Desjarlais not to contact family members.

"Felicity is Deanna's older sister so they had a great relationship. Deanna would call Felicity every week," Morenstein said.

Anyone with information about Deanna Desjarlais is asked to contact Vancouver Police at 604-717-3321.
Poster being distributed by family and friends of Deanna Desjarlais, 27, who last spoke to her family in April 2016. (Help Find Deanna Desjarlais Facebook page)