Missing Teen Girl from New Liskeard, Ontario – Melanie Ethier, 15, Vanished Without a Trace on September 29, 1996
🧍♀️ Missing Teen Girl Last Seen in New Liskeard, Ontario – Melanie Ethier, 15, Vanished Without a Trace
📌 Description
The disappearance of 15-year-old Melanie Ethier remains one of Ontario’s most haunting unsolved cases. On the early morning of September 29, 1996, Melanie left a friend’s house in New Liskeard, Ontario, intending to walk less than a kilometre home. She never arrived, and has not been seen or heard from since.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have described the case as “unique” because Melanie appeared to vanish without a trace. Despite exhaustive searches and a long-standing investigation, no physical evidence or confirmed sightings have ever emerged.
🕯️ A Family’s Ongoing Search for Answers
Melanie’s mother, Celine Ethier, has never given up hope. In a 2017 interview with the Parry Sound North Star, she spoke of her continued faith that someone, somewhere, holds the key to solving the mystery of her daughter’s disappearance.
“Missing my Christmas baby. 22 years without a trace. Keeping the faith, keeping hope,” Celine wrote on social media in December 2018. “I choose to believe that the person who knows what happened to my 15-year-old daughter will come forward.”
She urged anyone with information to contact police or reach out privately through the Facebook page dedicated to finding Melanie.
🚨 Ongoing Investigation
According to a December 2018 OPP statement by Const. Jennifer Smith, “The investigation remains active and is ongoing.” The case will remain open until police can determine Melanie’s whereabouts or confirm what happened to her.
“This case is unique as Melanie seemed to vanish without a trace,” Smith said. “However, we still believe someone out there has the information we are seeking in order to solve this case.”
The OPP continues to appeal to the public for any leads, emphasizing that every piece of information, no matter how small, will be examined thoroughly.
“The OPP prides itself on investigative excellence and has a long-standing tradition of conducting thorough and detailed investigations,” Smith added. “That is certainly the case with the disappearance of Melanie Ethier. This case is particularly challenging as it is difficult to find answers to a person’s disappearance when they have literally vanished without a trace.”
📞 How to Help
- If you have information about Melanie Ethier’s disappearance, please contact Det. Sgt. Lisa Laxton at 705-647-8400.
- To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). You may be eligible for a cash reward.
🔗 Sources
👉 What You Can Do
- Share Melanie’s story online and with others in your community.
- Follow the dedicated Facebook page to stay updated and spread awareness.
- If you know anything—no matter how insignificant it may seem—contact authorities or Crime Stoppers.