Please Help Locate Frank Gruben

Frank Gruben
Missing since: May 6, 2023
Missing from: Fort Smith, Northwest Territory, Canada
Date of Birth: May 4, 1993
Age: 30 years
Ethnicity: Indigenous
Gender: Male
Eye Color: Brown
Hair: Black, short
Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 170 lbs
Details About Frank’s Case: Frank has not been seen since the night of May 6, 2023 in Fort Smith, NWT. Frank had no means of transportation so he was walking everywhere. The RCMP say that they have put calls out for those who may have provided a ride to Frank at any time. They also say they checked all of the airlines in the Northwest Territories but there is no indication that Frank ever left Fort Smith. Frank was very close with his family, he would never choose to stay out of contact with them.

Frank Gruben’s Timeline:

Monday May 1, 2023
Frank stays over night at his friend Anne Jackson’s home.

Tuesday May 2, 2023
Anne and Frank take a selfie and she drops him off downtown.

Wednesday May 3, 2023
Virginia Kotokak invites Frank to watch the Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights hockey game.

Thursday May 4, 2023
Frank’s 30th Birthday. All of the messages going to Frank’s Facebook go unanswered. This includes Anne, Virginia and his mother Laura Kalinek.

Saturday May 6, 2023
8:00pm: Matthew, Laura, Jaylynn (friends of Frank’s) and Frank are seen in front of a house on Field Street. The group stopped to talk to someone in a car for a few minutes and then continued to walk towards Lou’s Small Engines.
The RCMP confirmed that Frank Gruben was last seen walking on McDougal Road and Field Street on the evening of May 6, 2023 by several witnesses and by security cameras from Joseph B. Tyrrell Elementary School.
8:30pm: Frank and his 3 friends were seen by Lou’s. This has been confirmed by 5 different people.
8:45pm: Frank is no longer in the company of his 3 friends.

Monday May 8, 2023
10:08pm: Anne contacted the police. She had said that they knew Frank and if he didn’t have a place to go, she told them they could bring him to her home and she would let him in.

“That’s when it became a missing-persons report.” – Anne Jackson

11:19pm: Frank’s Mother, Laura Kalinek received a text message from an unknown number saying it was Frank and that he needed to be picked up because he couldn’t miss court the next day. The person messaging said that ‘he got a sexual assault charge’.

Cpl. Matt Halstead, a media relations officer for the N.W.T. RCMP has stated that the investigators are aware of the message. “Frank Gruben does not have any charges outstanding for sexual assault.”

Frank did not have a personal cell phone. Family and friends have confirmed that someone smashed Frank’s phone between January and February, so he had no active personal phone data plan.

Frank has not been added to the RCMP missing persons website – Canada’s Missing (as of February 14, 2024). I actually cannot find any mention of him on Canada.ca / rcmp-grc.gc.ca either.

It definitely appears like the anger Frank’s Mom Laura feels toward them is valid. The Elders from Salt River First Nation were the ones that led the physical search for Frank. They had no assistance from the police. Communication with the family has also been lacking. Law enforcement has made them feel like they just don’t want to help. The CBC contacted the RCMP to do an interview to which they declined. They emailed a response with “RCMP Cpl Matt Halstead said the case is still “open and active”, but there are no new updates.” RCMP Supt. Dyson Smith says that the officers are following all leads and an ‘internal review’ has found “bias-free policing” had been employed in every step of the investigation.

On January 22, 2024 Frank’s family held a lantern release ceremony for him. The Gruben Family released a set of purple lanterns into the sky in memory of Frank. Lantern ceremonies are common practice in the family, regardless of how someone has departed.

“You’re not to hold on to them, otherwise you hold them back from going to heaven,” – Quote from Steven Gruben – Frank’s brother.

Personal opinion of this blogger: When the police investigate their own, I find it suspect. To the police – I don’t care if you find the family annoying or you just don’t know what to say to them – talk to them. They are going through hell and just want to know that someone is looking for their family member. Laura`misses her son. If she could go out and get him on her own, she would. She needs your help RCMP. She needs you to talk to her. She needs to know what is going on, what you are doing. Even if there is no news, tell her.

If you have information on Frank’s case, please contact any of the following:
Fort Smith Detachment NWT: 867-872-1111
Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS(8477)
Online at: https://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip
Crime Stoppers provides anonymous tipping
Email: canadasmissing-disparuscanada@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or GDIV_FORT_SMITH_DETACHMENT@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Sources:
APTN
CBC
Frank Gruben’s Facebook