RCMP Major Crimes has announced that another search is underway for Stephanie Stewart of Canmore, who has been missing since 2006 and is believed to be the victim of a homicide.
Currently, a ground and water search is underway in the Hinton area by RCMP resources, Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and civilian search and rescue teams. The search is taking place in the vicinities of the Athabasca Fire Tower, Jarvis Lake and Highway 40 North.
The search is expected to continue until Friday (Aug. 24).
On Aug. 26, 2006, Stewart was reported missing from the Athabasca Fire Lookout Tower near Hinton, where she lived and worked as an Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) employee. She had worked at the tower for 13 years during the fire season of April to October and was a very physically fit and experienced outdoors enthusiast.
On Aug. 26, Stewart failed to call in the morning weather report, which was highly unusual. After several unsuccessful attempts to contact her, Stewart was reported missing by her ESRD supervisor. Another employee was sent to check on Stewart and found her cabin empty, with obvious signs of a disturbance; blood was found on the steps and a boiling pot of water was on the stove.
A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched, but Stewart has never been located. Based on the totality of the investigation to date, RCMP believe Stewart was the victim of homicide.
Stewart was 70 years old when she went missing. She was about five foot two tall and weighed approximately 105 pounds. She had chin-length grey hair and blue eyes. There is no clothing description associated to the last time she was seen
