Shelly DENE Missing Person Case

Shelly

DENE

38

25

67 inches

67 inches

110 lbs

110 lbs

Indigenous

Female

In the summer of 2013, a 25-year-old Indigenous woman named Shelly Tannis Dene disappeared from Edmonton, Alberta. A member of the Fort McKay First Nation with strong connections to the Mikisew Cree Nation, Shelly was a mother known for her trusting nature and a smile that could light up a room. There are some inconsistencies regarding the precise timeline of her disappearance; some accounts state she was last seen in mid-July, while her family's last contact with her was in August of 2013. At the time, she was staying at her grandmother's residence in the area of 114 Street and 102 Avenue, having agreed to look after the home while her grandmother was away. When her grandmother returned from her trip, she discovered that Shelly had packed her belongings and left. Shelly’s life was marked by significant personal challenges, many stemming from the trauma her parents endured in Canada's residential school system, which led to struggles with alcoholism within her family home. Despite dropping out of school at a young age, she later earned her Grade 12 diploma in 2010 and had enrolled in college. For three years, she achieved sobriety and regained custody of her son, whom she described as her pride and joy. Tragically, following the death of her father from a brain tumour in 2012, Shelly fell into a deep depression and relapsed into addiction to cope with her grief. This resulted in her son being taken back into the care of social services, a loss that left her devastated. Initially, Shelly's family was not overly alarmed by her absence, as she was independent and had spoken of traveling to the Yukon. However, concern began to mount. The last communication any family member had with her was a text message exchange with her sister, Candice L'hommecourt, in August 2013. When Candice asked if she was okay, Shelly's final, worrying reply was simply, "No". When her cell phone was disconnected on November 8, 2013, her sister's concern turned to dread, and she officially reported Shelly missing to the Edmonton Police Service. In the years that followed, Shelly’s family organized awareness walks and maintained a social media presence to keep her story alive, at times expressing frustration that her case was not initially taken more seriously by law enforcement. The Edmonton Police Service has stated there is no indication of foul play, though an unconfirmed tip suggested Shelly might have traveled north to the Yukon with a man in a red pickup truck. The official investigation into Shelly Dene's disappearance remains open but has been at a standstill; in December 2014, police informed the family that all available tips and leads had been exhausted, leaving her loved ones without answers.

Scar Right Cheek

Aug 01, 2013

Edmonton

Alberta

Edmonton Police Service ; 1-800-422-TIPS

Alberta

780-423-4567

780-423-4567

Law Enforcement

CA13151984

Edmonton Police Service ; 1-800-422-TIPS

Black

Brown

Brown

No