Nicole Morin abduction: Police seek new clues in 1985 case
Twenty-nine years ago, eight-year-old Nicole Morin left her apartment in Toronto to go swimming with a friend.
Nicole hasn't been seen since, but police today released a re-enactment video they hope will trigger new information about a case they believe was an abduction.
Nicole disappeared on July 30, 1985, from 627 The West Mall, a 21-storey apartment complex where she lived in suburban Etobicoke.
At about 11 a.m. ET, Nicole said goodbye to her mother and left their penthouse apartment. She planned to take the elevator to the building's lobby, where she was to meet a friend to go swimming at the building's pool. Police believe she was taken by someone en route.
"Tragically, Nicole was abducted on her way to the meeting and was never seen again," said Det.-Sgt. Madelaine Tretter at a news conference Wednesday. "No trace of Nicole Morin has ever been found. We've never lost hope that we can find Nicole."
The case set off one of the most extensive searches for a missing person in Toronto police history.
More than 15,000 man hours were spent on the investigation, including the work of a 20-member task force.
The one-minute video re-enactment released Wednesday shows a little girl leaving her apartment and stepping onto an elevator. You can watch the video by clicking on the image at the top of this story.
Toronto Crime Stoppers program co-ordinator Chris Scherk said he hopes the re-enactment will trigger someone's memory. He emphasized that tips can be made anonymously.
"My belief is that someone out there may know what happened to Nicole Morin in 1985 and for some reason feel they can't come forward," he said. "With Crimestoppers they can. Criminals talk, they brag and they confess."
Police are gathering tips on Facebook and using the Twitter hashtag #FindNicole to gather information.
Nicole Louise Morin, was born on April 1, 1977. At the time of her abduction:
- She was four feet tall and weighed 51 pounds.
- Had brown hair and brown eyes.
- Had a birthmark on the right side of her forehead, protruding ears and a gap between her front teeth.
- Her ears were pierced and she was wearing a peach one-piece bathing suit with coloured stripes on the front, a green headband and red canvas shoes.
- She was carrying a peach-coloured blanket and a purple beach towel.
Investigators hope anyone with any information about what happened on July 30, 1985, will contact police at 416-808-2200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
