Six months after the disappearance of Amber Manthorne, a determined group of her friends continues to look for answers.
The 40-year-old went missing July 7, prompting volunteers around Port Alberni to come out by the hundreds to search for her.
They conducted an extensive search just outside the city, near Manthorne’s home at Great Central Lake, before efforts shifted to a gravel pit west of Cassidy — close to Timberlands and Ninatti roads — where her 2021 Jeep Compass was found July 10, more than 100 kilometres from her home.
The group active near Cassidy, dubbed “Amber’s Army,” used dirt bikes and ATVs to cover as much ground as possible.
The large-scale search ended after turning up no other trace of Manthorne.
Longtime friend Kristie St. Claire, who used to ride the school bus to junior high with Manthorne, recently had banners about her friend’s disappearance made and hung them from highway overpasses near Port Alberni and Nanaimo.
She said she asked around about the cost of having the banners made and they ended up being produced free of charge by Jal Designs.
St. Claire said the idea is to “jog people’s memories.”
“Sometimes it generates discussion,” she said. “If anybody has more information, please contact the RCMP, and we’re still using our [email protected] email.”
St. Claire said it was entirely out of character for Manthorne to disappear, especially when she was set to be the maid of honour at a friend’s summer wedding.
Manthorne, described as five-foot-two and 120 pounds with long blond hair and blue eyes, was originally thought to be in the company of an ex-boyfriend, but he was later located.
The initial police response included bringing in the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, which sometimes happens when criminality can’t be immediately ruled out.
St. Claire said there haven’t been a lot of new details lately from the Port Alberni RCMP, but the investigation remains open and active.
Posters of Manthorne can still be seen in store windows around Port Alberni, she said.
“We’ll be refreshing those, laminating some and revisiting some of the places that had them, just reminding them that we’re still looking for her,” said St. Claire, adding an online fundraising page has been created to support the ongoing search effort.
The community previously raised more than $11,000 to help Manthorne’s mother with legal costs and other concerns.
Manthorne’s supporters have no plans to give up on their missing friend, she said.
“We’re still a team,” St. Claire said. “Port Alberni works as a team. It’s the community with a heart.”
Port Alberni RCMP can be reached at 250-723-2424.
The online fundraising campaign is at gofundme.com/f/finding-amber-manthorne.
