The family of a missing senior from the Rural Municipality of Piney continues to hold out hope that their loved one is alive, even though she has now been missing for more than one year.
According to RCMP, Jean Backman last made contact with a friend on October 15, 2023. She was 70 years old at the time. Four days later, Sprague RCMP received a request to check on her wellbeing. Officers attended and searched her property and residence but were unable to locate her. Here we are, 12 months later, and Backman is still missing. In fact, some have said that it literally feels like she vanished into thin air.
Vanessa Backman describes her mother as someone who does not have an active social calendar, noting trips to the mailbox and grocery store are pretty much the extent of her regular outings. If Jean leaves the RM of Piney or travels to Winnipeg, Vanessa says she will typically make plans to see family or friends.
Vanessa says her mother also does not have dementia or any other health issues.
Sergeant Paul Manaigre with Manitoba RCMP admits that this is a very puzzling file.
"If you were to believe in aliens, you'd almost think, was she abducted?" says Sergeant Manaigre.
Sergeant Manaigre says investigators do not suspect foul play as there is no evidence to support that conclusion. He says she simply vanished.
"Is she with someone that knew her? Did she just decide it's time to go somewhere else and lay low for a while?" questions Sergeant Manaigre. "The possibilities are almost limitless."
As far as any new developments, Sergeant Manaigre says there is still the occasional tip that comes in. Because this is still an active investigation, he cannot comment on the types of tips they receive. However, he notes that clearly these tips have not resulted in any significant developments.
According to Sergeant Manaigre, this continues to be treated as a missing person's file. He explains that is because there is no information or evidence to suggest that she is dead.
Sergeant Manaigre says to date there have been at least three separate ground searches in the area since October of last year. They have attempted these searches during different seasons with hopes that it may lead to something, or someone being found. Sergeant Manaigre says that because there is no new evidence, there are currently no plans to coordinate additional search and rescue attempts.
Sergeant Manaigre says that based on his background and experience with search and rescue efforts, he does not believe that Jean Backman is in the area. He says if she had been attacked by an animal, they would have stumbled upon some evidence to support that. Or, if she had met with foul play, Sergeant Manaigre says there would be evidence either at her residence or nearby.
"You usually have those indicators that would lead searchers in a certain direction," he explains. "To have nothing found at all, would tend to tell me, that she perhaps went somewhere to meet with someone, and then like I say, she didn't return from there."
Sergeant Manaigre says investigators are trying to determine whether or not she willingly left with someone. He says it could be that someone picked her up or that she hitchhiked out of the area. Sergeant Manaigre says there is also the possibility that she met with a friend somewhere and then they decided to go someplace else. He suggests maybe she went to Richer for breakfast or maybe she headed south.
"We believe she probably made contact with someone, or someone came to see her," he says. "That's kind of the information we want to get is who could we talk to that may have come to her house out in Piney there? Who did she make contact with over the phone, perhaps just before or just after her disappearance?"
Investigators are again asking residents and motorists to think back to last October and try to recall any suspicious activity or vehicles they might have seen in the area near Backman's residence. Sergeant Manaigre asks the public that even if they have called in a tip already, to contact the RCMP detachment once again.
"We're doing our plea there to the public to call in with anything you might have, even if you've called us before," he says. "Call it in again and who knows it might be something that was taken down differently or who knows."
Meanwhile, even though RCMP-led search and rescue efforts have stalled, Vanessa Backman says friends and family have still organized their own. But she notes they are happening less frequently and unfortunately not turning up any new developments.
Backman says reaching the one-year anniversary of her mother's disappearance was very difficult for family, friends, and everyone who loved her mother. But she says they remain hopeful. And, unlike investigators who suggest that the senior is not nearby, Backman says she is trying to remain hopeful that that is not the case.
Backman says if she could say anything to her mother today, it would be how much she is loved and how much she is missed.
"If there's anything anyone can remember to please contact the local RCMP," asks Backman.
She would like to thank all their family, friends, government agencies, search and rescue organizations, and even complete strangers who have shown their support this last year. Backman extends a special thank you to Darryl Contois, Jo Seenie, and Chris Waub; "Miigwetch."