Jennifer Leigh Catcheway
Jennifer Catcheway phoned her mom on June 19, 2008 to say she would be home in Manitoba’s Portage la Prairie that night to celebrate her 18th birthday, but she never arrived. Police traced that phone call to Grand Rapids, Manitoba, where Catcheway was last seen. The Winnipeg RCMP are investigating the homicide, and officers last spoke to Catcheway’s parents in 2014, but had no updates on the case.
When Jennifer Catcheway last stood in her family’s home, she was a few days shy of turning 18. She wrote a note to her parents, and left. “Gone to see my cousin. Be back later. Love you. Put my ice cream in the fridge, I’ll have it when I get back,” it read.Her parents expected her to return to their Portage la Prairie, Man. home on June 19, 2008. It was a Thursday, and Jennifer was turning 18. She called that day to tell her mom she’d be there in the evening to celebrate, but never arrived. Seven years later, she’s still gone, and Winnipeg RCMP considers her disappearance a homicide.
The RCMP traced that call to Grand Rapids, Man., six hours from the family home. She believes Jennifer was in Grand Rapids with her uncle and cousin, and RCMP confirmed she was in town, using photographs that place her at a party.According to family members, Catcheway was seen for the last time getting into a truck on her birthday, and may have been dropped off or left on a highway.
When she didn’t turn up at her party, Catcheway wasn’t worried.A few days later, Catcheway got a strange call from the woman married to Jennifer’s uncle. Soon after, she went to the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). “They didn’t take me seriously,” she said. “The constable that I reported to... said ‘how old is she?’ I said ‘18,’ and he said ‘well, give her a week or so. She’s probably on a drunk.’ That’s the first response I got.” Jennifer’s uncle and cousin were arrested a few weeks after she vanished, and both were released without charges.Catcheway says her family has been searching for Jennifer since she disappeared — they’re even offering a $10,000 reward to whoever finds her.
Catcheway says Jennifer was known for valuing family. She grew up on Manitoba’s Skownan First Nation, and had three siblings. She was responsible — always leaving notes — and, according to her mom, fiercely loyal.
Catcheway says the investigation into her daughter’s homicide was mishandled, especially in its early stages.Weeks after Jennifer was reported missing, officers in Portage la Prairie and Grand Rapids hadn’t taken statements from multiple family members.
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When Jennifer Catcheway last stood in her family’s home, she was a few days shy of turning 18. She wrote a note to her parents, and left. “Gone to see my cousin. Be back later. Love you. Put my ice cream in the fridge, I’ll have it when I get back,” it read.Her parents expected her to return to their Portage la Prairie, Man. home on June 19, 2008. It was a Thursday, and Jennifer was turning 18. She called that day to tell her mom she’d be there in the evening to celebrate, but never arrived. Seven years later, she’s still gone, and Winnipeg RCMP considers her disappearance a homicide.
The RCMP traced that call to Grand Rapids, Man., six hours from the family home. She believes Jennifer was in Grand Rapids with her uncle and cousin, and RCMP confirmed she was in town, using photographs that place her at a party.According to family members, Catcheway was seen for the last time getting into a truck on her birthday, and may have been dropped off or left on a highway.
When she didn’t turn up at her party, Catcheway wasn’t worried.A few days later, Catcheway got a strange call from the woman married to Jennifer’s uncle. Soon after, she went to the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). “They didn’t take me seriously,” she said. “The constable that I reported to... said ‘how old is she?’ I said ‘18,’ and he said ‘well, give her a week or so. She’s probably on a drunk.’ That’s the first response I got.” Jennifer’s uncle and cousin were arrested a few weeks after she vanished, and both were released without charges.Catcheway says her family has been searching for Jennifer since she disappeared — they’re even offering a $10,000 reward to whoever finds her.
Catcheway says Jennifer was known for valuing family. She grew up on Manitoba’s Skownan First Nation, and had three siblings. She was responsible — always leaving notes — and, according to her mom, fiercely loyal.
Catcheway says the investigation into her daughter’s homicide was mishandled, especially in its early stages.Weeks after Jennifer was reported missing, officers in Portage la Prairie and Grand Rapids hadn’t taken statements from multiple family members.
Do you have any information on this case?
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