Shelly Tannis Dene
Case reference: 2014006306
Missing Since: August 2013
Missing from: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Shelly is a member of the Fort Mckay First Nation
Date Of Birth: December 7, 1987
Age at Disappearance: 25 yrs
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Indigenous
Eye Color: Brown
Hair: Brown, long
Height: 170 cms / 5ft 7in
Weight: 50kgs / 111 lbs
Notable: She has a scar on her right cheek and a piercing above her left upper lip.
Details: Shelly was last seen at her grandmother’s house which was located near 114 Street and 102 Avenue. Shelly’s grandmother asked her to watch her home because she was going on vacation. The last time anyone actually saw Shelly was mid-July 2013. Around that time, Shelly’s sister Candice contacted Shelly through text. “It’s when I asked her if she was okay over text. She said ‘no.’ And that was the last thing she’s ever said to me.” Then when their grandmother got home a few weeks later, Shelly had packed her stuff and left. Her family assumed she’d travelled to the Yukon, as she had been talking about visiting.
On November 8, 2013, Shelly’s cellphone was officially disconnected and Candice reported her missing to the Edmonton Police Service. Her sister had initially thought nothing of her silence, as she was a pretty independent person, but the issues with her phone sparked concern. Shelly always paid her bills and always had her phone. Candice reached out to family and Shelly’s friends, but no one had seen or heard from her.
Initially law enforcement did not take Shelly’s disappearance seriously. Shelly is an Indigenous woman who struggled with alcohol and chemical dependency issues, which Edmonton Police called a ‘high risk lifestyle’. Candice has been open regarding her criticism of law enforcement and their investigation into Shelly’s disappearance. She does recognize the limited resources available to the police, however she has been able to gather more evidence and information than investigators working the case. For example, a witness saw a man taking suitcases out of her apartment around the time she went missing. Edmonton Police Service have told CBC News that they followed up on that lead, and others, but have not yet produced any new information.
The Edmonton Police Service partnered with other law enforcement agencies due to the possibility Shelly had travelled to northern Alberta or the territories. They had unconfirmed information she went to the Yukon with a First Nations male in a red pickup truck, and with the help of the Yukon detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police they were able to circulate that information. This appears to remain unconfirmed.
Candice has also questioned the lack of communication between investigators and the family, as the last time they heard from them was on December 9, 2014 when they told the family they’ve exhausted all tips.
Before moving to Edmonton, Shelly lived in Kelowna, British Columbia. In spite of facing the many challenges associated with the generational impacts of residential schools, she successfully completed her Grade 12 education in 2010 to build a better life for her young son. She was known by her loved ones as a highly talented artist who designed clothing, crocheted, and painted traditional drums.
📣 If you have information regarding Shelly’s case or her whereabouts, please contact any of the following:
🚨Edmonton Police Service: (780) 423-4567
EPS File #:13-151984
📞Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS(8477)
🔗 Online at: https://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip
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: CBC (2), Canada’s Missing, Help Find Shelly Tannis Dene FB
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