Volunteers head to the site of a search on the Paul First Nation in Alberta Monday. Photo: Brandi Morin, APTN
Brandi Morin
APTN National News
Family and friends of a missing woman organized a ground search for her Monday on the Paul First Nation in Alberta.
Misty Faith Potts, 37, of Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation, Alberta was last seen March 14.
Approximately 30 volunteers are searching the Paul First Nation near Alexis after the family received a number of tips and advice from a physic that her remains could be in the area.
The psychic had given accurate information on where to find a previous missing Alexis band member that was later found dead.
“I’ve been trying to stay optimistic and hopeful, but she would’ve contacted me or my mom,” said Misty’s sister, Eva Potts. “She can’t just disappear like this.”
According to her sister, Potts held a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies and was very active in her community.
However, her family said that after her brother Zachery died in 2011 her life started to go downhill. Misty Potts started hanging around a bad crowd and began using drugs.
“She was going through some hard times but I thought that maybe one day she was going to come out of it and one day things were going to get better,” said her sister, Eva.
Potts last saw her sister in February and recently hacked her Facebook account in hopes of finding clues to her whereabouts.
Nothing unusual or suspicious came up.
Her last Facebook message was to her niece who asked where she was, in which Misty replied, “I’m around, don’t worry.”
Her family suspects she could have fallen victim to foul play because of her involvement with drugs at the time of her disappearance.
Eva Potts said she has been having difficulty sleeping but is still hopeful her sister will be found alive. Although there is a high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women, Eva never expected her sister would be one of them.
“I can’t imagine that anyone would hurt her. She’s not a violent person. If anything she’s really kind and she gives a lot,” said Eva.
Potts has a five year-old son that she usually calls at least once a week, however no one, including her son, has heard from her since she was reported missing to the RCMP in March.
The group is searching down gravel roads and through dense bush and are expected to take at least a week to cover the entire reserve and surrounding area.
In the RCMP’s missing person’s report Misty is described as:
– 5′ 6″ tall
– 120-130 lbs
– dark brown, shoulder-length hair
– freckles on her face
Misty Potts was last seen wearing a red jacket, coral-colored jeans, and thick black-rimmed glasses. She was last seen in Enoch Cree Nation on Saturday, March 14, 2015 and was believed to be travelling to Edmonton.
Police are asking that if you have any information on the whereabouts of Misty Potts, please contact Mayerthorpe RCMP at 780-786-2291.
