Diane Mae BIGNELL Missing Person Case

Diane Mae

BIGNELL

68

60

62 inches

62 inches

141 lbs

141 lbs

Indigenous

Female

On what should have been a day of celebration, her 60th birthday, Diane Mae Bignell was seen for the last time on May 17, 2018, in Thompson, Manitoba. An Indigenous woman, Diane was a cherished mother and friend who enjoyed simple pleasures like doing word puzzles, watching her soap operas, and making bannock. On the morning of her disappearance, she had visited with her cousin before heading into town to spend time with friends. She was last seen at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Juniper Street. Diane, who lived with her brother, was known for her consistent communication with her family; it was highly out of character for her not to let him know her whereabouts if she wasn't going to be home. Two days later, after no one had heard from her, she was reported missing to the Thompson RCMP, sparking deep concern among her loved ones and the community. Diane is described as being five feet four inches tall with a heavy build, a tan complexion, and brown eyes. She wore glasses and had shoulder-length hair that was a mix of black and grey. At the time she went missing, she was reportedly wearing a dark grey or black coat, dark royal blue pants with white stripes, and grey running shoes. Her family noted that she suffered from physical ailments, including a bad hip and painful knees, which caused her to walk with a limp and would have made it difficult for her to travel far on foot. In addition to these mobility issues, Diane was also diabetic and required medication. Her disappearance under these circumstances was particularly alarming to those who knew her well and understood her physical limitations. The investigation into Diane's disappearance has been ongoing, marked by both determined search efforts and frustratingly few leads. A significant development came in late June 2018, when her dark grey jacket was discovered near the Burntwood River. This discovery prompted extensive searches of the river, with family, community volunteers, the RCMP, and Manitoba Hydro participating. Searchers dragged the river bottom and an underwater recovery team conducted sonar searches, but these efforts unfortunately did not yield any further evidence or signs of Diane. Rumors have circulated about her possibly being seen with a man from Selkirk, though this has never been confirmed. The case remains a painful mystery for her family, who continue to hold out hope for answers. The overview of the case is one of a beloved woman who vanished on her birthday, with the only significant clue being her jacket found by a river, leading to searches that have thus far brought no closure.

Shoes Grey, Hiking/sport shoes

May 17, 2018

Thompson

Manitoba

Thompson RCMP

Thompson

Manitoba

(204) 983-5461

(204) 983-5461

Law Enforcement

2018-685840

Thompson RCMP

Black

Brown

Brown

Build: Heavy

No