‘It’s been hell’: family desperate for answers in Bowmanville cold case

WATCH ABOVE: Noreen Anne Greenley, 13, vanished more than 50 years ago, but her family never gave up the search. They hope an age progression sketch will help. Lama Nicolas has the story.

TORONTO – Noreen Anne Greenley was just 13 years old when she vanished over 50 years ago while waiting at a bus stop in Bowmanville, Ont. and hasn’t been seen since.

Now, a new age progression sketch has been released in an attempt to capture the public’s interest for tips in the police cold case.

Greenley went missing after leaving a friend’s house on the evening of September 14, 1963 and was last seen waiting for a bus on Highway 2 in Bowmanville.

Shelley Greeley said her sister’s disappearance shattered her family.

“It turned my mother into an alcoholic. She fell into the bottom of a bottle and never came out,” said Greeley.

Speaking to Global News, she said while her mother spiraled into alcoholism, her father suffered a brain aneurysm when she and her siblings were still young.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“He died searching for her. It killed him. It killed them both.”

Greeley and her siblings then all got put into care and were separated.

“It just destroyed our family, for generations,” said Greeley. “It’s been hell, you know not knowing. We wanna bring her home. We want anybody who knows anything — you know there’s a hope, we hope.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It just destroyed our family, for generations," said Greeley. "It's been hell, you know not knowing. We wanna bring her home. We want anybody who knows anything — you know there's a hope, we hope."

“Even if we find her remains, we could put her with my mum and dad. I promised my mum we would find her.”

Greeley is in poor health, currently going through cancer treatment. She’s determined to find answers while she still can.

“I don’t know how much time I have left,” said Greeley. “I want to find my sister. and anybody that can help us, please. Please help us.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I don't know how much time I have left," said Greeley. "I want to find my sister. and anybody that can help us, please. Please help us."

The Bowmanville Police Department investigated her disappearance with several search efforts and investigations, but were unable to locate her.

In 2005, the Homicide Unit revisited the case but were unsuccessful in receiving any tips. The case however remains open.

An online fundraising campaign has since been started to help hire a private investigator. The family also maintains a Facebook page and a blog where they post updates on their search for Noreen.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Terry Haight with the Durham Region Police at 905-579-1520 or Crime Stoppers, at 1-800-222-tips. Information can also be emailed to crime@222tips.com.

You can get more details on this story during our Global News newscast at 5:30 p.m. tonight.

With files from Lama Nicolas and Tania Kohut