Sarah SKUNK Missing Person Case

Sarah

SKUNK

73

33

66 inches

66 inches

132 lbs

132 lbs

Indigenous

Female

Mishkeegogamang First Nation

The story of Sarah Skunk is a deeply sorrowful one, beginning with a fractured childhood and ending in a mystery that has spanned decades. A member of Mishkeegogamang First Nation in Ontario, Sarah was one of eleven siblings. Her life took a difficult turn in the 1960s when, as a young girl, she was sent away from her community to a training school in Toronto. This separation from her family and home had a lasting impact. Her sister recalled the heartbreak of watching her be taken away and believed this early trauma was why she seemed reluctant to return home permanently. Though she visited her family on occasion, her connections to her home were strained. Sarah Skunk, a 43-year-old female, was officially last seen by a friend in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1995. At that time, it was mentioned she might be heading to the West Coast. Following her last known sighting, years turned into decades with no word from Sarah. The family's attempts to find her were met with a painful silence. They chased down rumors of her being seen in various cities, including Sudbury and Vancouver, and even in Washington State, but these leads never resulted in a reunion. The official report of her being a missing person was not filed until February 15, 2000, several years after her family last had contact. The investigation, handled by the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, has been a long and arduous process for the family. In 2014, a significant lead emerged when the facial composite of an unidentified body found in Oregon bore a strong resemblance to Sarah. This prompted investigators to take DNA samples from Sarah's mother to compare, creating a rollercoaster of hope and fear for the family. The passage of time has not eased the pain for Sarah's loved ones. In 2017, three of her sisters brought her story to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, sharing the profound impact of her disappearance. They spoke of a life marked by early trauma and the enduring hope they hold out for answers. The case of Sarah Skunk is a heart-wrenching overview of a life interrupted and a family left in limbo. Born on October 8, 1952, she disappeared into a void of uncertainty, leaving behind a family to grapple with unanswered questions and the perpetual hope that they might one day learn her fate. Her story underscores the deep and lasting trauma experienced by families of the many missing Indigenous women across the country.

Mark Mouth, Wart on inside of mouth Scar Head, Right side Tattoo Left Forearm, Dagger Tattoo Left Forearm, "DIANE' OR "DIANA'

Jan 01, 1986

Mishkeegogamang First Nation

Ontario

Yes

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service

Nishnawbe Aski

Ontario

1-800-654-6277

1-800-654-6277

Law Enforcement

RM14006175

Nishnawbe Aski Police Service

Black

Brown

Brown

No