Two years after Juanita MIGWANS was last seen, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police (UCCM Police) continue to seek answers with a renewed appeal for information.
On Monday, October 7, 2024, UCCM Police received a report of a missing person, identified as 31-year-old Juanita MIGWANS of M’Chigeeng. She was last seen walking on Riverside Drive in M’Chigeeng on Friday, October 4, 2024.
Juanita is described as:
- Indigenous
- 5’6″ (168 cm)
- 110 lbs (50 kg)
- Slim build
- Brown hair and eyes
- Potentially wearing a light-coloured jacket and dark-coloured pants
Juanita is known to have ties to the Village of Lion’s Head.
Despite extensive investigation and canvassing of the community, Juanita remains missing. Police are urging anyone with information about her disappearance to come forward.
Juanita is one of the missing Indigenous Peoples whose case continues to be investigated by the OPP to find answers for their families. The cases are listed in the Missing and Unsolved Murdered Indigenous People (MUMIP) report, available at opp.ca/mumip. An OPP video providing an overview of Juanita’s case is also available.
The investigation remains ongoing by the Manitoulin OPP Crime Unit in conjunction with UCCM Police, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).
The Government of Ontario and the M’Chigeeng council are offering a combined $115,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Juanita’s disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Manitoulin OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or the dedicated tipline at 1-833-941-9010. You may also contact the UCCM Police at 705-377-7135. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
“Juanita’s family and community are missing her and deserve answers. We urge everyone to watch and share the video. If you have information, no matter how small, please come forward. We are confident someone knows something that can help move the investigation forward,” said OPP Detective Inspector Jason Winser, CIB
UCCM Police Chief James Killeen adds that, “As we honour Juanita MIGWANS, we also renew our commitment to ensuring her story is never forgotten. We will continue to work alongside our policing partners, community leaders and families to seek answers, demand accountability and support healing. Juanita matters. Every Indigenous woman and girl matters, and we will not stop advocating until meaningful change is realized.”
