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This weekend marks one year since Barrie's Mandy Thompson vanished

'We want to know what happened to her and where she is'
2018-02-01 Mandy Thompson
Missing Barrie woman Mandy Thompson is pictured in this photo courtesy of the Thompson family

A very difficult date is fast approaching for Mandy Thompson's family.

It will be one year ago - Feb. 3, 2017- that the beloved wife, mother, sister, step-mother and grandmother walked out of her Laidlaw Drive home in Barrie's north end at 7:30 a.m. on a frigid morning.

Her family hasn't seen her since. 

The past year has been filled with painful milestones including Christmas without Mandy, her birthday and now the one-year anniversary of her disappearance.

Step-daughter Lynn Ratuszny finds it hard to believe that a year has passed. More than ever, Mandy is in their thoughts knowing this date is upon them. 

"The family just is really hopeful for closure at some point," said Ratuszny. "That's what we're really looking for is just to know that we found her."

The 72-year-old Thompson, diagnosed with Alzheimers a few years ago, had wandered before but was always located and brought home.   Not this time.  Despite several large-scale searches by Barrie Police, the OPP, South Simcoe Police, Barrie Fire and Georgian Bay Search and Rescue, the only sign of Mandy was captured on surveillance camera video of a business at 10 a.m. that morning walking north on Penetanguishene Road.

It’s the the last known sighting of the senior who had walked 10 kilometres in three hours. 

The sighting shifted the search to Oro-Medonte Township just outside the city.  But there was still no sign of Mandy.

Her family is taking the opportunity of the one-year anniversary to reach out again for the public's help.

Ratuszny especially wants to flag what her step-mother was wearing when she vanished: a black knee length jacket, white sweater, jeans and white running shoes.

"People might see a shoe and just think, oh, it's just a shoe but at least if it's out there in their mind they might think twice.  Even if someone thought of something later on or didn't report it at the time - even if they think it's insignificant - call.  Call Crime Stoppers."

It's never too late to provide information and Thompson's family needs the public to be their eyes and ears.

Her loved ones have conducted their own searches without turning up any clues.  It's been an agonizing year of unanswered questions and a feeling of helplessness.  

"Where do you search? That's the hard part because it's such a vast area," said Ratuszny.

Last Fall, the family reached out to hunters through local hunt clubs and supply stores and put up more posters hoping someone might see something in the remote areas but to no avail. 

There is another lead that is still unresolved. 

Investigators received video surveillance of a black tow truck parked on Penetanguishene Road near Napoleon Home Comfort on Friday, February 3, at 10:59 a.m. 

Police believe the tow truck had been hooking up a vehicle and hoped the tow operator might have seen Mandy.  

Despite numerous public appeals, the tow truck driver has not come forward nor the driver of the car being towed. 

Mandy's family is grateful to everyone involved in the original search and extends 'a big thank you for all the efforts made."

But for them, the search will never end. 

Her disappearance has left a permanent, heartbreaking hole in her family.

"Someone is missing, for sure," said Ratuszny. "We want to know what happened to her and where she is."

Mandy is described as having a medium build with short red-brown hair, brown eyes.

She was wearing a black knee length jacket, white sweater, jeans and white running shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call a tip line at (705) 725-7025 ext. 2160.  Anonymous tips can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or anonymously online at www.tipsubmit.com


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Sue Sgambati

About the Author: Sue Sgambati

Sue has had a 30-year career in journalism working for print, radio and TV. She is a proud member of the Barrie community.
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