Photos of Nicole Frenchman in a collage provided by Edmonton Police Service.
Police are calling on the public to help them solve the 2021 disappearance of Nicole Frenchman.
While no remains have been found, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) said Wednesday they believe the 23-year-old woman is dead and are treating her disappearance as a homicide.
“Despite the fact three years have passed, we believe there are still individuals out there with knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Nicole’s disappearance and presumed death,” said Det. Bryan Macauley in a news release.
“We’re hopeful that anyone who may have information pertaining to Nicole’s disappearance might feel more comfortable now reaching out to police, with some separation from when the incident initially occurred in 2021.”
Frenchman, a member of Beaver Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, was last seen at about 5 a.m. on July 10, 2021, after she and another woman were dropped off by a taxi on 82 Avenue in the Kingsway area of the city between 97 and 99 Street, police said in a news release.
Frenchman then got into a large white or light-coloured Ford pickup truck with oversized tires and a lift kit, police added.
Her sister Sarah Frenchman spoke to reporters at an EPS news conference Wednesday morning.
“We spent a lot of time together growing up, playing outside in our tree fort, going to the beach and creating dance routines,” Sarah said in the release. “We played together lots as kids, and argued sometimes as siblings do, but we always made up.
“I think of my sister and miss her every day of my life. It’s heart-wrenching for my family and I. We hope someone can find it in their heart to do the right thing for my family and I, and contact EPS.”
Police describe Nicole as 5’4” and approximately 130 pounds, with long black hair and brown eyes.
She had several noticeable tattoos, including one of a blue woman wearing a crown on her upper right chest, a dreamcatcher on her right forearm, and a flower and dollar sign on her right hand.
“Sometimes things change over time for a variety of reasons, and people may feel less worried about coming forward to police,” Macauley added in the release.
Anyone with information is asked to contact EPS at 1-780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
