By Tyler Marr

Police calling for renewed public assistance in locating Happy Charles

Jun 20, 2017 | 5:10 PM

“We miss our daughter,” a tearful Regina Poitras said, the mother of Happy Mary Charles who has been missing for over two months.

Poitras and her husband Carson spoke alongside investigators at a press conference Tuesday afternoon at Prince Albert Police headquarters, where they asked for renewed public assistance in locating the 42-year-old mother of four. 

“We all miss her and all love her. It has been really rough,” Poitras added. “If someone knowns something please let us know. I wake up every morning thinking about her, I go to sleep every night thinking about her.”

Police said Charles was last seen at the Prince Albert YWCA. She was again seen in released video footage shortly after midnight near Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI) on April 3. She was wearing a three-quarter length black jacket, blue jeans and a ball cap. She had light coloured shoes, a black backpack, a purse and a white shopping bag.

Police Chief Troy Cooper said many departments have been involved in the search for Charles, one of 463 people reported missing so far this year.

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“We know that when a loved one is not found, there is no such thing as enough resources. And we have to turn to the community for help, and so we’re doing that today,” he said.

Inspector Jonathan Bergen said the investigation into Charles remains ongoing. He said extensive ground searches have been conducted by officers, canine units as well as civilian teams.

With the assistance of Saskatoon Police Service, police have also conducted an aerial search of Prince Albert using cameras. The search gave investigators the opportunity to investigate large swathes of land, densely forested areas, and water bodies. They continue to collect video surveillance and review the footage. 

Numerous friends and family members have assembled over the past several months to scour the region for Charles. Bergen hoped this renewed ask for help would raise awareness among the general public to be aware of search teams.

Those close to Charles and who she was last seen with have been spoken to, according to Bergen, and a few more people are to be followed up with.

He stressed the need for people to speak up and report any piece of information they may have. He did say officers had followed up on “several tips of possible sightings,” but have turned up nothing.

“If people have seen her or think they have seen her, call the police, the family. We need to find Happy,” he said.

This was echoed by Poitras. She urged people to contact her, saying she is not “disregarding any leads at all.”

A Facebook page called ‘Bring Happy Home’ has been launched. Poitras encouraged people to join to stay up to date with information surrounding the search. She called upon people to turn out and volunteer for the upcoming search between June 30 and July 2. The team will be scouring areas north and east of the city, a change from searches south in the past. They are also hosting a fundraiser on June 28.

Despite months of unknowns, Poitras said the family has been “holding up okay.”

“I asked my husband on Fathers Day, I said ‘Honey, what do you want for Fathers Day?’ He said ‘My daughter to come home,’” Poitras said. “It just hit me so hard. That was my wish on Mothers Day too.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police or Crime Stoppers.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr