We have a number of people of interest: Family, police seek tips in Merasty case

After nearly two months missing from Edmonton, the family of Natanis Merasty is pleading for information on her disappearance. Marcela Merasty, Natanis’s aunt and godmother, says it is out of character for the 24-year-old to be gone this long without checking in. “By this time, she would be calling home for family,” Marcela told a new conference at  Edmonton Police Service (EPS) headquarters last week as family members cried behind her. “Anything that was ever wrong with her she would come to us for support. The people who have answers, come forward.” Natanis was reported missing on May 9 after she went visiting with friends and acquaintances in Edmonton. She is from La Ronge and a member of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation – both in Saskatchewan. A photo of Natanis Merasty’s vehicle showing her Saskatchewan licence plate. Photo: Edmonton Police Service “We feel someone may have seen her in distress; we would like the public to come forward,” added Marcela at the July 18 news conference. “I don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt Natanis.” The EPS have released a timeline of Natanis’s movements and where her 2007 black Hyundai Tucson with Saskatchewan licence plates ended up – a search that has now spanned the three provinces of Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. On May 5, police say she and her vehicle were at the Continental Inn at 16625 Stony Plain Road until 1:22 a.m. She and her vehicle were then seen on surveillance video at a 7-Eleven convenience store on 107th Ave. and 156th St. until 2:55 a.m. Police say her vehicle then travelled through Edmonton and east to Sherwood Park (a small community outside of Edmonton), Buck Lake (166 kilometers southwest of Edmonton), Nordegg (300 kilometers southwest of Edmonton) and Lake Louise (470 kilometres southwest of Edmonton). They are unsure who was driving the car. On May 6, police say the vehicle continued into and through B.C. Again, EPS is unsure who was behind the wheel. On May 7, the vehicle boarded a ferry and travelled to Nanaimo, B.C. on Vancouver Island. On May 10, the vehicle returned to the Edmonton area. On May 12, the vehicle is seen west of Lloydminster, a city 250 kilometres southeast of Edmonton on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. On May 15, the vehicle is recovered in James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, 240 kilometres east of Edmonton, abandoned and painted silver. “We have spoken to a number of individuals and we have a number of people of interest,” Lisa Riou, a homicide detective with EPS, said at the news conference. “It is very out of character for Natanis not to be in communication with family.” A screen grab of Natanis Merasty on surveillance video. Photo: Edmonton Police Service Riou said Natanis’s vehicle is being analyzed. She could not confirm whether Natanis was inside the vehicle when it was spotted in other provinces. “We have a lot of hope that she is still alive,” said her uncle Victor Michel. “We are hurt as a family and we are just seeking the public’s help.” Natanis’s aunt urged her niece to reach out. “It’s OK, you don’t need to be scared, you don’t need to hide; we all love you. Come home now,” she said. Natanis is described as 5’ 8″ tall and 180 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a black and grey sweatshirt, black leggings, white shoes and a black fanny pack. She also has a tattoo of the letters “DJM” on her fingers and a rose tattoo on her hand. Her family also says she has a scar on her right hand and on her eyebrow from a piercing. Anyone with information is asked to contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. Continue Reading