The RCMP’s Historical Case Unit (HCU), which is tasked with the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Courtney Struble, hasn’t given up on the search to find her.
July 9 marked the 12-year anniversary of Courtney’s disappearance. Sgt. Robin Zentner with the HCU told the Mercury that they continue the search for her, and they hope to apprehend whoever is responsible for her disappearance.
Courtney was 13 years old when she vanished, and her case has been treated as a murder for several years.
Zentner described Courtney’s disappearance as “an active investigation.” He was in Estevan on July 13 as part of the investigation, and he met with Courtney’s mother, Joy, to provide her with an update.
“We are still following up on tips and information provided by members of the public,” said Zentner. “We still believe there are people out there who have information that they haven’t shared with us yet.
“We know who some of those people are, and we have approached them, and we are trying to work with them to obtain and retrieve that information. But, currently, we have not been successful in all of those endeavours.”
Zentner has been in Estevan nine times in the past 12 months. He has also sent investigators from the historical case unit to the southeast to follow up on information regarding Courtney’s possible whereabouts. The unit also has people in Estevan who will follow up on leads.
Officers from the unit have travelled to other parts of the province to speak with people who lived in Estevan at one time, and might know of Courtney’s whereabouts.
They have received tips regarding her disappearance during the past 12 months. When the anniversary passed earlier this month, it brought her case to the forefront again.
“Members of the public reach out to the police and provide information,” said Zentner. “I was looking at a tip or dealing with a tip … when I was down in Estevan. Information is still coming in that we are still following up.”
Each person they interview brings them closer to solving the case, because it helps them rule out people who they previously suspected might have been involved with her disappearance.
“We are definitely ahead of where we were last year, but unfortunately we’re clearly not at the finish line yet where we are able to … locate her and return her to her family, or hold anyone accountable for her disappearance,” said Zentner.
They have an idea of what happened to Courtney, based on the interviews they have conducted, the searches they have performed and they information they have received, but it’s still not enough to proceed with charges.
Courtney disappeared in the early morning hours of July 9, 2004, after watching movies with friends at the Estevan Veterinary Clinic west of the city. Her friends offered her a ride home just after midnight, but she decided to walk. Investigators now believe she made it back to Estevan, but she didn’t reach her home. She has not been seen since.
There have been numerous searches since she went missing.
The HCU assumed control of the investigation several years ago. They believe her body is somewhere in the Estevan area, or near a rural community such as Bienfait, Hitchcock or Roche Percee.
