Virginia
SAMPARE
72
18
64 inches
64 inches
146 lbs
146 lbs
Indigenous
Female
On a chilly evening in Gitsegukla, British Columbia, 18-year-old Virginia Sampare vanished without a trace. The date was October 14, 1971, a day that would mark the beginning of a decades-long mystery for her family and community. Virginia, who was also known as Ginny, was reportedly in a state of emotional distress, grieving the recent disappearance of her boyfriend whose body would later be found in the Skeena River. That night, between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m., she was at her mother's home and appeared to have been crying. Without a word, she walked out of the house, leaving her jacket behind despite the cold. The last person to see Virginia was her cousin, Alvin. They were walking together along Highway 16, a stretch of road that would later become tragically known as the Highway of Tears due to the number of women who have gone missing or been murdered along it. Alvin briefly left Virginia to go home and retrieve a jacket or a bicycle, intending to quickly return. Upon his return, he reportedly heard the sound of a vehicle door closing, but Virginia was gone. She was last seen wearing a navy blue short-sleeved cotton shirt, brown corduroy pants, and black leather medium-height heels. It was out of character for Virginia to leave without telling anyone of her plans. The morning after Virginia disappeared, her mother attempted to report her missing to the Gitsegukla Indian Band office but was incorrectly told she needed to wait a period of time before involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Two days later, on October 16, 1971, the RCMP officially opened a missing person file and began their investigation by interviewing friends and family. Extensive searches were conducted by volunteers, civil defense personnel, and the RCMP, covering the dense brush surrounding the area where she was last seen. A helicopter was even brought in to aid in the search from the air. Despite these efforts, not a single trace of Virginia was ever found, and the official search was called off on October 28, 1971. Over the years, there has been speculation, but no conclusive evidence has ever emerged to explain what happened to her. Her case is one of the oldest unresolved missing person cases in British Columbia and a somber part of the Highway of Tears story. Virginia's family has continued to hold out hope for answers, keeping her memory alive and seeking any information that might finally bring them closure.
Pants Corduroy, Brown Shirt Cotton, Short sleeve navy blue shirt Shoes Leather, Black, medium heels
Oct 14, 1971
Gitsegukla
British Columbia
New Hazelton RCMP
New Hazelton
British Columbia
250-842-5244
250-842-5244
Law Enforcement
2000-1594
New Hazelton RCMP
Black
Brown
Brown
Complexion: Dark
No
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