The family of Trina Hunt is feeling anguish and turmoil after struggling with her disappearance over the last six weeks.
Speaking before the media Monday morning, Hunt’s cousin-in-law Stephanie Ibbott described how the lives of family members have been turned upside down since Hunt went missing on Jan. 18.
“Our anguish is unbearable. It is simply impossible to function at times,” said Ibbott.
Behind her, family members put up a banner asking anyone with information about Hunt’s disappearance to call Port Moody police or Crime Stoppers — a sign of hope that the family will continue its search for their loved one.
But while this was the first time Hunt’s family members have appeared before media, Ibbott said they wouldn’t be speaking, and asked the media to respect their wishes.
Ibbott also read out a statement from Hunt’s husband, who was unable to appear at the press conference. “The past six weeks since Trina’s disappearance have been a devastating and incredibly difficult time for me and everyone who knows my wife,” he wrote in the statement read by Ibbott.
Hunt’s husband also said he has confidence in the police investigation.
Recently, the Port Moody Police Department (PMPD) issued a statement in which they said many avenues of investigation had been undertaken, including reaching out to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, which declined to take on the case because of the lack of evidence of foul play.
However, the case remains open and active, according to PMPD.
Ibbott also said the Port Moody police are doing a good job in their investigation of the missing Port Moody woman. But she said a GoFundMe online fundraiser was needed to pay private organizations to help with the search as well as advertisements in newspapers and social media.
The GoFundMe initiative went online last weekend and has already raised more than $6,000.
According to the GoFundMe page, funds will go toward private search and rescue organizations, and helicopter and drone companies as well as specialized search dogs. And any leftover funds will be donated to non-profit organizations such as the Coquitlam Search and Rescue, which participated in the search for Hunt in the days immediately after she went missing.
While the fundraiser has generated significant local interest, efforts to keep community members alert for the missing women took place March 1 when the family hung a banner on the Moody Street overpass in Port Moody, next to Rocky Point Park.
Backed by eight members of the Hunt and Ibbott families, Ibbott told assembled media that it was “unimaginable that something like this could occur” and she said the grief and turmoil the family is going through is “beyond explanation.”
No members of the family would speak, and she said the decision was “not taken lightly.” Ibbott also thanked Port Moody residents for getting the family through their “darkest moments” and helping with important tasks.
When asked what Ibbott would like to say to someone who may know abut Hunt’s whereabouts, she said, “We need Trina home. This has gone on long enough. We need answers. You need to let us know where she is. She needs to be safe with us. She belongs with us and we’re not going to stop until we find her.”
Hunt went missing from her home in the Heritage Mountain neighbourhood of Port Moody on Jan. 18. She is believed to be wearing a black The North Face jacket with teal logo/collar, and magenta Cloudflyer running shoes.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Trina Hunt is asked to contact the Port Moody Police Department at 604-461-3456.
