Chrisma Denny's family says rumours she's been found are untrue

The family of a missing Cape Breton woman is trying to dispel rumours that Chrisma Ann Joy Denny has been found and says they're continuing to search for the First Nations woman.

Denny was last seen on Sept. 19 in Knoxville, Tenn., where she stayed at a homeless shelter for two days.

Elaine Denny, Chrisma's aunt, said the family has heard rumours the 23-year-old woman has been found. But she said those rumours aren't true and the family is still desperately trying to find her.

When there was a confirmed sighting of Chrisma in the U.S. her family was initially relieved, said Elaine Denny. But that relief has turned to anxiety.

"A lot of anticipation, there's hope that she will be found. There's sleepless nights, I had a sleepless night last night and it's horrible then you have to go to work and face the day," Denny said.

"She's still missing and we're still very worried. Everybody's concerned and worried and my heart goes out to my brother and the siblings and all we can do is hope."

Denny said the family has no idea why Chrisma, who is from Eskasoni, would head down to the U.S.

The family is using a social media and poster campaign to try to track her down.

International search 'really, really hard'

"That's like a needle in a haystack though. It's so far away. Our search was local, now it's gone international and that's hard. Really, really hard," Denny said.

Desiree Vassallo, a spokeswoman for the Cape Breton Regional Police, said officers are working with the RCMP to find Chrisma.

"Any time an investigation spans a significant geographical area like the one we're dealing with, it does pose a challenge to officers," she said.

"That's why it's so advantageous when police agencies can work together."

Vassallo said right now they have no new information in the case, but continue to follow up on every lead.

Chrisma Denny is five feet six inches tall, 145 pounds and has brown hair and eyes.