A few days before her 18th birthday on 19 June 2008, Jennifer Catcheway left a note for her parents that read, "“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."
Her family expected her back on 19 June 2008 to celebrate her milestone birthday. Jennifer even called her parents that morning telling them she would be home to celebrate. It was assumed at first that call was made in her hometown of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba but when police traced the call, it was determined to have been made from Grand Rapids, Manitoba - 6 hours away (more than 400 kilometers) from the family home. Photographs last place her at a house party in Grand Rapids, Manitoba in June 2008. Bernice Catcheway, Jennifer's mom, believes Jennifer was in Grand Rapids with her cousin and uncle.
She wasn't too worried when Jennifer did not show up on 19 June 2008 but a few days later when she received a strange call from the woman married to Jennifer's uncle, Bernice went to the Winnipeg Police Service. There have been many rumours circulating since Jennifer went missing regarding the details of her disappearance - somebody knows something.
At the time of this writing, which is 8 July 2023, the information available states that Jennifer Catcheway was last was seen on 19 June 2008 at approximately 12:00 p.m. departing Grand Rapids en route to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. It is believed that she was last seen near the Waterhen Junction - Provincial Road 328 and PTH #6 after being dropped off by a truck. The location where she was suspected to have last been seen is marked by a purple question mark in map below. Her suspected destination, her hometown of Portage la Prairie, is marked with the green "raindrop".
In October of 2015 Jennifer's parents searched a landfill near the Dakota Tipi First Nation, five kilometres southwest of Portage la Prairie, after a witness showed up at their home with a tip, but they did not find anything.
"I've always have questions about Dakota Tipi, unanswered questions from 2008," said Jennifer's father, Wilfred Catcheway. "We always end up coming back to Dakota Tipi." (quote is from Jennifer Catcheway's family searching landfill and Dakota Tipi yards | CBC News).
Jennifer's parents are of course desperate to find her and say the lack of closure is painful. They urge anyone with any information on Jennifer's whereabouts to come forward, even anonymously. Jennifer's mom says, "You can leave a note somewhere, leave a map, anything," she said. "Help us bring Jennifer home." (This quote is from 'She would have been 30': Jennifer Catcheway's family prepares for another summer of searching | CBC News)
If you have any information regarding her disappearance please visit www.missingkids.ca or call 1-866-KID-TIPS (543-8477) or call Project Devote at 1-888-673-3316.
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