FORT FRANCES – The family of Melanie Lapish is hoping the young woman will be found soon.
Her mom, Colleen Rogers, said officers with the Ontario Provincial Police are doing everything they can to find the 35-year-old, who has been missing since Feb. 26.
In Fort Frances, the OPP have been searching with the canine unit. Rogers said they are also searching with a ground crew and using a helicopter.
“They looked in LaVallee . . . about 20 minutes outside Fort Frances . . . and they looked in Fort Frances and they looked down Highway 502 as far as the Dryden turn off,” Rogers said.
She recently travelled from her home in Sault Ste. Marie to help with the search.
Rogers is hoping her daughter is found soon, especially since Lapish has a son, Stephen, who will turn five next month.
An OPP spokesperson confirmed the search for Lapish is ongoing.
Lapish, who worked as a server at Boston Pizza in Fort Frances, is approximately 5'9" and 110 lbs, with blue/green eyes, long dirty blonde hair, and a nose ring.
She was last seen wearing a grey sweater, blue jeans, and a toque.
Lapish has ties to Sault Ste. Marie where she lived before moving to Fort Frances this past summer, although Rogers doesn’t think she would have travelled to the Sault.
“If anybody sees her, please step forward and let the OPP know,” Rogers said.
Anyone who has had any contact with Lapish or has any information regarding her whereabouts is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
