Barrie woman’s family desperate for answers 2 years after her mysterious disappearance

It’s been two years since Barrie woman Autumn Shaganash vanished without a trace as her family and police appeal for information to bring her home.

On Tuesday, Shaganash’s family gathered at Sunnidale Park in Barrie, the last place she was seen before disappearing.

“We remain hopeful‚” said Shaganash’s sister, Lili Moore. “I know she’s out there somewhere.”

Video surveillance obtained by police showed Shaganash walking with a friend on the morning of June 10, 2023, at the same time an ALS Walk was underway with dozens in attendance. Her friend told police he was ahead of her and had become momentarily distracted and when he turned back around she was gone.

Investigators have said she vanished into thin air without a sound or cry for help. Lili Moore said she received a text from Shaganash that morning, but within minutes her sister’s phone was off.

“She should be home with us,” her sister said. “It’s really hard.”

Barrie police and the woman’s family believe someone has information that could crack the case.

“Somebody knows what happened. Somebody has got to know something,” said Shaganash’s cousin, Kim Moore. “Please if anybody knows anything… if anybody saw something that day, please."

“We can’t stress the importance, if anybody has any information, no matter how small it may be, we’re asking you reach out to the Barrie police or your local police service and let them know. It could be the piece of the puzzle that we’re searching for that allows us to reunite Autumn with her family,” added Peter Leon, Barrie Police Service corporate communications.

Several searches have been conducted over the last two years to no avail.

“No less than six searches have been conducted. We’ve utilized K9 resources, we’ve utilized remote-piloted aircraft systems or drones, we’ve done ground searches… We haven’t located anything here," Leon said from Sunnidale Park Tuesday.

Where the then-27-year-old woman went and with whom remains a mystery. Police previously said they couldn’t rule out the possibility of human trafficking.

“It’s been like hell. It’s the saddest thing someone can go through,” Kim Moore said of the not knowing and the fear that someone is holding her against her will. “She’s the most amazing person. She’s funny, she’s kind, she family oriented. She would have come home that day. I know she would have.”

“If she’s alive, I hope she can escape from what’s happening to her,” Lili Moore stated.

Police urge the public to focus on the facts of the case. “We rely on facts. Speculation only fuels rumours and speculation,” Leon noted. “Our investigators have never lost their focus. Their focus since day one is locating Autumn and reuniting her with her family.”

The Barrie Police Service has utilized various resources to find Shaganash, including launching multiple electronic and mobile billboards, a city bus campaign, and a $50,000 reward for information on her whereabouts.

“This investigation will continue until we are able to bring resolution to this case,” Leon said. “We have not given up hope.”

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