An investigation that began with a report Friday that a Port Alberni woman was missing expanded Monday to include other parts of Vancouver Island.
Specially trained members of Ladysmith Search and Rescue were conducting grid searches in Cedar looking for any trace of Amber Manthorne.
Family and friends of Manthorne are growing more worried after she didn’t arrive at work on Friday.
Kristie St. Claire, a friend of Manthorne’s, said it’s unusual for her to not be in touch with friends or family.
“She has lots of friends that she’s very closely in contact with on a daily basis,” St. Claire said in an interview with CHEK News Sunday.
“She’s involved in a wedding party right now and arranging for that. So she’s in close contact on a regular basis with all of her friends and so none of those people have heard it all from her and they’re concerned.”
RCMP say she may be with her ex-boyfriend Justin Hall.
“Friends and family are really concerned her mom is essentially just exhausted with stress right now,” St. Claire said. “People are very scared, very worried about her. This is very unlike her.”
Port Alberni RCMP say Manthorne’s Jeep was found south of Nanaimo, off McGillivray logging road at around 3 p.m. Friday. It has since been towed to a secure facility for a forensic search.
“We are still looking for Amber, we are still following all the evidence, and tips that we receive from the public,” Const. Richard Johns said in a news release. “Investigators have been working around the clock to find her.”
RCMP are asking anyone with information about where either Manthorne or Hall may be to get in contact with the police right away.
Friends tell CHEK News she was last in contact with friends and family on July 7. Her phone was pinged on July 8 in Port Alberni.
St. Claire says she’s asking people to check to see if they have any dash cam footage that may show Manthorne.
“We’re just asking that everyone please take a long hard look at all these photographs,” St. Claire said.
“Just give it some thought for a moment and go back in your mind and if anyone can recall or has dashcam footage between Friday around supper time till about even Saturday at lunch from the last few days in and around, leaving Port Alberni going down towards Nanaimo, even any of the back roads.”
St. Claire says many are hoping Manthorne comes home safe.
“We want her to know how much we love her, all of her friends and her family,” St. Claire said. “Please be safe and come home and Justin, please bring her back.”
Vancouver Island’s Major Crime Unit is involved in the investigation.
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- Friends and family of Amber Manthorne (right) are hoping she comes home safe.
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- Amber Manthorne’s (centre) car was found south of Nanaimo.
-With files from Mackenzie Read
Laura Brougham
