Please Help Locate Michelle Gurney

Michelle Gurney
Case reference: 2014004103
Missing since: December 11, 1998
Missing from: Vancouver, BC
Year of Birth: 1969
Age at Disappearance: 29 years
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Indigenous
Eye Color: Brown
Hair: Black, Long
Height: 162 cm / 5 ft 4 in
Weight: 45 kg / 100 lbs
Physical Build: Medium
Complexion: Dark

Details About Michelle’s Case: Michelle was a member of the Nisga’a First Nation. She was 29 years old when she vanished. She was last seen at the St. James Community Society building in the city’s Downtown Eastside on December 11, 1998. She was reported missing ten days later by her social worker.

Michelle had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1986. She lived in several different group homes and was involved in a few different outpatient care programs until 1991 when she moved to Vancouver. Michelle gave birth to a son that same year but was unable to care for him so she lost custody of him when he was an infant. In 1995, Michelle moved to a group home in Penticton, but did continue to travel back & forth to Vancouver to visit her son. In 1995 she moved back to Vancouver.

At the time of her disappearance, Michelle was alleged to be a substance user and sex worker. She had been residing at the Portland Hotel which is located in the Downtown Eastside. Michelle had been planning to relocate to Chilliwack, British Columbia with her boyfriend, however she was informed that there were less mental health resources available to her in Chilliwack.

It is speculated she is a victim of Robert Pickton, however her name is not on the list of publicly identified victims and is still listed as missing by the RCMP.

If you have information on Michelle’s case, please contact any of the following:
Vancouver Police Department:
Telephone: 604-717-2530
Email: vpd.missing@vpd.ca
Reference Case#: MIS 98-297035

Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS(8477)
Online at: https://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/tips
Crime Stoppers provides anonymous tipping

Send email to the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains at: canadasmissing-disparuscanada@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Sources:
Canada’s Missing
International Missing Persons Wiki
Tears to Hope Society – She Is Somebody
Doe Network
Justice for Native People