After six years of no leads and little to no new evidence, there is hope that a fresh set of eyes will help discover what happened to Courtney Struble.It has now been six years since the Estevan teen went missing on July 9, 2004 when she was walking home after watching a movie at a friends. The RCMP marked the anniversary of her disappearance Friday with a press conference in Regina where it was announced their Historical Case Unit is investigating the Struble file.Sgt. Paul Dawson of the RCMP's media relations division said in October 2009 the Estevan Police Service contacted the RCMP and requested the HCU conduct an independent review of the case file. "So obviously a review was done and a joint decision was made that the Historical Case Unit would take a greater lead in this investigation," said Dawson."The Historical Case Unit specializes in this type of investigation - serious crimes, missing persons, those types of things - where there has been a time delay. We see it as a good fit as these are the members that have the expertise to work on the investigation."Dawson noted that investigators have met with Courtney's immediate family and expect to speak with a number of other people in the community over the next few months. He added the HCU has had some success in similar cases and just last week cracked a nine-year-old murder case in Saskatoon."The HCU was working on it and had some success and charges were laid," he said. "So hopefully we will have the same results with this investigation and get some new information but we need the public's assistance as well."At Friday's press conference, Dawson was joined by Courtney's mother, Joy Struble, who echoed the RCMP's request for someone to step forward with information about her daughter's whereabouts.Struble said the ordeal has been tough on her family and, for better or for worse, it is time they received closure."We need to know," she said. "It's been a long time and we need some conclusion so we can begin the rest of our lives."Dawson also released some of Courtney's writings during Friday's conference which were collected from her school work. A then 13-year-old Courtney wrote that when she grows up she wants to live in an apartment or a little house. "I would like to drive a convertible or a Viper if they have them around still when I am older," said Courtney who also wrote that one day she would like to be either a hairdresser or school teacher.Dawson, who noted that Courtney's case is being treated as a missing persons, joined with Joy Struble is asking the public to step forward if they have information."It was six years ago when she disappeared. People who at that time may not have been willing to come forward for whatever reason are now six years older and maybe they are more apt to come forward," said Dawson."People change over time and we are hoping that those people, if they have information and haven't brought it to the police, we want them to do so. When you hear from Courtney' mother, this is something that stays with them not just during the anniversaries of this, it's all the time they are living with this."If anyone has information about Courtney's disappearance they are asked to contact the Historical Case Unit at (306) 780-5582 (306) 780-5582, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or the Estevan Police Service at 634-4767. Further information on Courtney, including a description and photographs, can be found at www.sacp.ca.
