Family pleads for information on what happened to missing Manitoulin Island woman

Manitoulin woman missing for a month The family of Juanita Migwans, a M'Chigeeng First Nation woman missing since Oct. 2, is appealing for information from the public.

Juanita Migwans – or 'Winnie,' as her family calls her – of M'Chigeeng First Nation has been missing for almost a month.

Migwans, 30, disappeared without a trace Oct. 2. She was last seen on Riverside Drive in the First Nation at approximately 5 p.m.

Her family is pleading with the community to tell the police anything they know.

"Just need people to keep sharing, talking to the police. We simply need a lead," said MaryDale Ashcroft, Juanita’s aunt.

"It's hard to believe in this day and age, but with all of the communications and cameras and stuff that she's literally dropped off the face of the Earth."

Ashcroft said Juanita was part of the drug world so she said they believe there are three possibilities to explain her disappearance – none of them good.

"One, she's OD'd and we have yet to find her," she said.

"Two, she's been murdered, and three, she's been transported somewhere and is in the sex trafficking world. So, as Morris (Juanita’s father) said, none of those are good answers and that's why we really need the community to come on board."

Det. Insp. Raymond St. Pierre of the Ontario Provincial Police criminal investigations branch said Migwans didn't have anything with her when she disappeared.

"What's important to note is she didn't have a telephone with her," St. Pierre said.

"She didn’t have a form of ID, bank card or credit cards or anything like that."

UCCM Anishnaabe Police and the OPP have working together on the ongoing investigation.

"Our investigators have conducted numerous door knocks, conducted numerous interviews, following up on tips, of sightings," St. Pierre said.

Ground and aerial searches

"The OPP and UCCM have conducted ground searches. We have used aviation services, so that includes a helicopter, that includes drones."

He wants the community to know that they’re not giving up and continue to search for Juanita. But he's hoping someone will come forward with new information.

"We're looking for assistance and the police can't do it on their own," St. Pierre said.

"We need community engagement. We need people to, you know, step up and share that information. And if they're not comfortable in speaking to us directly, there is Crime Stoppers that people can reach out to."

There is also a dedicated tip line: 1-883-941-9010

Nov. 2 marks a full month that Migwans has been missing. A prayer vigil will be held from 5-6 p.m. at the M’chigeeng Bay/Beachpark for anyone wishing to attend.