On September 27, 2005, Michelle Caroline Choiniere, a 25-year-old woman, told her mother she was heading out from the Guildford area of Surrey, British Columbia, and would check in later. That was the last time her family ever heard from her. Michelle, who was pregnant at the time of her disappearance, was described by her aunt as a loved woman who had a mother and relatives who loved her to bits. Her family grew worried when she didn't make contact, and on October 17, 2005, they officially reported her as a missing person.
For more than two years, Michelle's loved ones lived with agonizing uncertainty. The hope of seeing her again was tragically extinguished in December 2007, when skeletal remains were discovered by someone in a remote area on Vedder Mountain in Chilliwack. Investigators were able to positively identify the remains as belonging to Michelle Choiniere through her dental records. The circumstances of the discovery led police to quickly determine that her death was not accidental or natural; criminality was involved. Her case was officially ruled a homicide.
The investigation into Michelle’s murder was taken over by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). Over the years, investigators have explored numerous avenues to uncover the circumstances that led to her death. Early in the investigation, there was media discussion about a possible connection to other cases involving women in the Fraser Valley, but police did not publicly confirm any definitive links. Despite the passage of time, IHIT has consistently maintained that the case is active and that they are open to any and all possibilities.
On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance, in November 2025, IHIT and Michelle's family issued a renewed and heartfelt public appeal for information. "Twenty years have passed, but she has not been forgotten," said Sergeant Freda Fong of IHIT. "Ms. Choiniere’s case remains open, and we believe there are individuals with knowledge of Ms. Choiniere’s death who have yet to come forward. It is not too late to do the right thing. You could hold the piece of information that could bring closure to her family."
Michelle’s family also released a powerful statement, pleading for answers and peace. "It has been twenty long years since my beloved niece, Michelle Caroline Choiniere, was taken from us," the family's statement read. "Michelle was just 25 years old and pregnant when her life was stolen. We have lived with heartbreak, questions, and silence ever since." Addressing the person responsible directly, the family continued, "You hold the truth. You know why her life ended that way. While nothing can ever undo the pain, you still have the power to give Michelle the dignity she deserves and provide the answers we have sought for so long. I am not seeking vengeance – just answers, truth and peace."
As of February 2026, the murder of Michelle Caroline Choiniere remains an open, unsolved investigation. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly named. Her family continues to wait for the answers that might explain what happened to Michelle after she walked out the door in September 2005 and why her life, and the life of her unborn child, were taken. Investigators urge anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward.
Anyone with information regarding the death of Michelle Choiniere is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
