Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2017056443) and
1 other sourceIn the late summer of 2017, twenty-year-old Kristina Joanne Ward, a young First Nations woman, was living with her parents in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Described as fun, loving, and someone who wanted to make friends, Kristina also faced vulnerabilities. She lived with schizophrenia and a developmental disability, with a mental age estimated to be between twelve and sixteen years old. This, along with her trusting nature, made her susceptible to falling into dangerous situations.
Kristina was dependent on medication to prevent seizures, a crucial detail in the timeline of her disappearance. On September 25, 2017, Kristina left her family's home. She sent a message to her mother indicating she had met up with friends and would be home soon. Her family later noted that she had only taken a single dose of her medication with her, suggesting she did not plan to be away for an extended period. Concern grew quickly, and she was reported missing within a day.
Two days later, on September 27, there was a brief interaction with law enforcement when a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer encountered Kristina. She assured the officer she was alright, and as she was a legal adult, the officer respected her privacy. Tragically, this would be one of the last confirmed sightings of her. Later that same evening, between 7:50 and 8:45 p.m., surveillance footage captured Kristina at the intersection of 104th Avenue and 144th Street in Surrey. She was not alone; the video showed her walking with an unidentified man who was pushing a bicycle. This grainy footage represents the last known trace of Kristina. After this point, her cell phone and bank account activity ceased completely. The man in the video has never been identified.
In the years that have followed, Kristina's family has been relentless in their search for answers. They have organized annual walks, tracing the route she was last seen taking, to keep her memory alive in the public consciousness and to plead for any information that might lead to a breakthrough. Her parents, Art and LeeAnne Ward, have spoken of the indescribable pain of not knowing what happened to their daughter. The RCMP has stated that while they have received numerous tips over the years, none have led to concrete answers. Kristina's case is a painful reminder of the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, and her name has been added to this database. The investigation into her disappearance remains open, a frustrating and heart-wrenching puzzle for her family and investigators who continue to hope that someone, somewhere, holds the key to bringing Kristina home.Last Seen: Sep 25, 2017
