We were surprised to hear this week the OPP called off a search for a missing Pakenham woman. Tina Smithson disappeared on Jan. 26.
We called the police to confirm the search was over and learned they believed she fell through the ice of a nearby stream and was swept away.
We called the mayor of Mississippi Mills to learn how the community was dealing with this tragedy. We encountered a second surprise.
Al Lunney reacted with some hostility when our reporter reached him. To be fair, the mayor may know this family and was acting out of grief.
He felt we should not delve into the story.
I had hoped he would act as a spokesperson for his residents who undoubtedly are trying to come to grips with this loss.
Given we reported the OPP were looking for a missing local woman, we felt it prudent to tell our readers the search was over. And as I'm sure readers have many questions about this incident, we feel it's our role to try to find the answers.
We had a reporter visit Pakenham yesterday to talk to residents.
I hope to post a story online early next week.
About Me
- From the Editor
- 'From The Editor' is a blog written by Roger LeBlanc and newsroom staff. It's a mix of personal observations, behind-the-scenes views at this newspaper and a conversation starting point for residents of Almonte, Beckwith, Carleton Place and beyond.
Could she be linked to the William's murders??? Petewawa and Ottawa are not that far away... It is hard to grasp that she had fallen through the ice. If she lived close to the water and was familiar with the area, do you really think she could have fallen in??
ReplyDeleteI agree with that comment, I knew Tina and something doesn't sound right about her disapearance. Someone is hiding something.
ReplyDeleteOkay atleast there is someone else that is feeling the way I am. This just doesn't seem right, I should hope that the police have some type of evidence that she infact had fallen through the ice( a hole)? I live on the water and I sure no where to walk and where not to walk..... Tina seems to fit the profile of the other two women, and all her belongings are at her house. Who's to say she wasn't out for her daily walk and walked into the path of the accused, that is where my concern originated from.. I hope if there was no evidence that our police are looking into maybe there is a connection.
ReplyDeleteI smell a rat! Tina was not the type of person to put herself in jeopardy, she would not gamble with her own life. She loved her children! Please do not let the book jacket mislead you! For Tina's sake and for the sake of her children please stray from the lines and read the unwritten words. Tina deserves nothing less than our best efforts; we need to discover the truth about what happened to her. She was a wonderful, trustworthy, faithful and sincere woman! I miss you Tina.
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