SUV belonging to missing woman spotted in 3 provinces: police

The Edmonton Police Service says an SUV belonging to Natanis Merasty, who was last seen on May 5, was seen in three provinces after her disappearance.

The Edmonton Police Service says the disappearance of a Saskatchewan woman who was last seen in Edmonton is suspicious and they’re looking for information about her SUV, which traveled through three provinces since the last time she was seen.

• Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News Edmonton, right at your fingertips

Natanis Merasty, 24, was last seen in Edmonton on May 5.

She was captured on CCTV leaving the Continental Inn at 166 Street and Stony Plain Road at 1:22 a.m.

She got into her 2007 black Hyundai Tucson with a Saskatchewan plate and drove away from the hotel, returning around 1:30 a.m.

Merasty left the hotel a second time at 2:37 a.m.

She was captured on camera at a 7-Eleven store at 156 Street and Stony Plain Road at 2:55 a.m.

It’s the last known image of Merasty.

Merasty’s SUV travels to 3 provinces

According to investigators, Merasty’s SUV travelled through Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Buck Lake, Nordegg and Lake Louise on May 5.

On May 6, it drove through B.C. and on May 7 it travelled by ferry to Nanaimo, B.C.

On May 10 the SUV returned to the Edmonton area and it was seen west of Lloydminster on May 12.

On May 15 the Hyundai was found abandoned at the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.

At the time it was found, it had been repainted silver.

Investigators say there are no clear images of the driver of the vehicle between May 5 and 12, and it’s unknown if Merasty was inside.

She was initially reported missing to RCMP by family on May 9.

The case passed to EPS on May 22.

EPS investigators held a news conference on Friday in hopes of generating tips about Merasty’s whereabouts.

“This missing person investigation stretches across three provinces,” Det. Lisa Riou told reporters.

“It speaks to the scale of work that’s ongoing and the complexity of this case.”

“It is unlike Natanis to not be in contact with her family for long periods of time, so we consider this disappearance suspicious.”

No one is in custody in the case, but Riou says investigators have identified “a number of people of interest.”

Riou says police don’t know if Merasty is in the Edmonton area or one of the other locations where her SUV was spotted.

“I would hesitate to say that we have any information so specific as to one particular city,” she said.

“We want and welcome tips from those three provinces.”

It’s unclear if she has any connections to any of the locations where the SUV was spotted.

‘A lot of hope that she’s still alive’

Merasty’s family also addressed reporters, calling for anyone with information to come forward.

“We have a lot of hope that she’s still alive,” Merasty’s uncle, Victor Michel, said.

“We are seeking our girl and we want her home.”

Natanis’ aunt, Marcella Merasty, described her niece as soft-spoken and kind.

“She is loved. She did not deserve this. (She has) family who dearly misses her and wants her home.”

Merasty has long brown hair, brown eyes, and an average build.

She was last seen wearing black pants and a black and grey baseball-style long sleeve t-shirt.

She was living in Prince Albert, Sask., and is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.

Riou says it’s believed Merasty came to Edmonton with friends.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.