Abigail Andrews
On April 7, 2010, 28-year-old Abigail Andrews vanished from Fort St. John, British Columbia, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and a family desperate for closure. Fifteen years later, her disappearance remains one of the region’s most haunting unsolved cases.
A Promising Life Interrupted
Abigail, a Métis woman, was three months pregnant and eagerly preparing for motherhood. Just days before her disappearance, she had gone shopping with her parents for baby supplies, including diapers, clothes, and a stroller . She was known for her kind heart, love of poetry and mythology, and her culinary skills, which made her popular among coworkers at an oilfield camp where she worked as a cook . On the evening of April 7, Abigail left her basement apartment on 99th Avenue, telling a neighbor she was going to visit a male friend on 98th Avenue. She also called her mother around 7:00 p.m., promising to check in later—a call that never came . She was last seen walking down 94th Street, wearing a black trench coat, black pants, and sequined ballet flats, carrying a purple Guess purse and a pink BlackBerry Pearl phone .
The Investigation and Community Efforts
Two days after her disappearance, Abigail’s parents filed a missing persons report. The RCMP launched an extensive investigation, including a search of the North Peace landfill on April 20, 2010, though no significant evidence was disclosed . Her bank accounts showed no activity post-disappearance, and rumors circulated about her lifestyle, which her family vehemently disputed. In June 2010, friends and family organized searches around Fort St. John, guided by tips and even a psychic’s advice, but to no avail . That same month, two billboards were erected along the Alaska Highway to raise awareness and solicit tips from the public .
A Case Treated as Homicide
By 2013, the RCMP released a re-enactment video of Abigail’s last known movements, hoping to jog memories and generate leads. They identified a suspect but have not disclosed the individual’s identity, citing insufficient evidence for charges . The case is now treated as a homicide, with investigators believing that someone in the community may hold crucial information.
Ongoing Remembrance and Pleas for Justice
Abigail’s family and friends continue to honor her memory through vigils and a dedicated Facebook group, “Remembering Abigail Andrews,” where they share stories and photos . Her aunt, Beth Cobbett, has expressed the family’s enduring pain and desire for closure, stating, “To have closure, just to know, and to be able to have a grave… that would be what we would grant” .
How You Can Help
The Fort St. John RCMP and the Serious Crime Unit continue to seek information related to Abigail Andrews’ disappearance. Anyone with knowledge, no matter how minor it may seem, is urged to contact the RCMP at 250-787-8100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Abigail’s story is a poignant reminder of the countless missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. Her family’s unwavering quest for answers underscores the importance of community vigilance and the need for justice.
