On the evening of August 27, 2011, 21-year-old Desiree Oldwoman was at her home on the Siksika First Nation in southern Alberta. She was last seen at approximately 8:20 p.m. Desiree is autistic and non-verbal, though she is able to write her own name. It is believed that sometime during the night, she wandered away from the residence. At the time she went missing, she was wearing a brown sweater and black track pants with a red stripe, and notably, she was not wearing any shoes.
The area where Desiree disappeared is near Highway 901, leading investigators to suspect she may have been walking along the highway late that night or in the early morning hours of August 28. Extensive search efforts were launched in the days and years that followed, covering land, air, and water, but they yielded no sign of Desiree. A few days after she was reported missing, some of her belongings, including her sweater and shoes, were found near the Bow River. Despite this discovery, what happened to her remains a mystery. Over the years, police have received various tips, but none have led to a breakthrough in the case.
The disappearance of Desiree Oldwoman has had a profound and lasting impact on her family. They describe her as 'special, beautiful, wonderfully curious' and miss her dearly. Her loved ones continue to hold out hope for her return and for justice. The family has pleaded with the public for any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, that could help locate her. The investigation into her disappearance is ongoing, and authorities have released an age-progressed composite sketch of what Desiree might look like today. Her case is a somber reminder of the many Indigenous women who have gone missing, and her family continues to seek answers and closure.Last Seen: Aug 27, 2011
