It’s one year on, but RCMP near Vanderhoof say sovling the disappearance of 20-year-old Madison Scott remains one of their highest priorities.
“Maddy” Scott was last seen around 3am on Saturday, May 28, at a party at Hogsback Lake – south of Vanderhoof.
“This investigation remains a priority for North District Major Crime”, says Cst. Lesley Smith, RCMP North District Media Relations Officer.
“We believe that there is information out there and it is our hope that someone will come forward to help us determine what happened. The police need information and Maddy’s family need answers.”
To mark the anniversary of her disappearance, the family has organized a poker ride for today, starting at the lake campsite.
The event – “Let’s Go All In for Madison Scott” – will send participants along the network of trails near the area Scott was last seen.
Collecting playing cards at each checkpoint, the aim is not only to gather the best poker hand and win prizes, but also to send fresh eyes throughout the area and find clues about her disappearance.
The family is also offering a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the disappearance.
Police located the woman’s truck and tent at the time, but have been unable to find further leads.
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Anyone with information about Maddy’s whereabouts should call the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment at 250-567-2222 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The family has released the following statement, written by Madison Scott’s aunt:
Almost one year ago, on May 28, 2011, Madison Scott, 20 years old at the time of her disappearance, went missing from the Hogsback Lake campground 25 kilometres southeast of Vanderhoof, which is one hour west of the city of Prince George in the Interior of British Columbia. Her family are in shock and disbelief at the anniversary of her disappearance this month.
Madison, or “Maddy” as she is known to her family and friends, was camping with a group of young people who were celebrating a friend’s birthday. Everyone left the party by about 4:00 am and Maddy was left alone at the party; apparently spending the night alone, in her blue tent set up beside her older white Ford pick-up. Something happened that led to Maddy’s disappearance after everyone left the party and foul play is suspected.
Maddy’s parents, Dawn and Eldon Scott, went to the campsite on the Sunday of that fateful weekend when they decided it was strange that she had not been in touch with them. Maddy is very close to her family and she would regularly check in with her mom and dad when she was away from home. An extensive search of the area was conducted by the RCMP, Search and Rescue, and family and friends. To this day, Maddy remains missing and many questions remain unanswered.
After a long and difficult year, and despite an ongoing and in depth RCMP investigation in addition to the ongoing searches, awareness campaigns and pleas from her family and friends for her safe return, there has been no real evidence of what happened to Maddy. The family and their team of supporters continue to be hopeful that anyone with information will come forward; Someone knows where she is but they have not come forward with the truth.
To highlight the fact that Maddy is still missing a year later, the family and its supporters have organized a poker ride to take place starting at the Hogsback Lake campsite and covering the extensive network of trails radiating from the place where Maddy was last seen. The trails have been divided into three groups; one for walkers, one set for those on horseback and another trail system for those on quads. The idea is that participants will bring fresh eyes and vast coverage of the trails in the area with the hope that someone will notice a clue that will lead to discovering where Maddy is. The poker ride is not a fundraiser; there will be prizes awarded as is usual at this type of event and the goal is to heighten awareness that she is still missing and to lead to new information that brings her home to her family.
The poker ride is aptly titled “Let’s Go All In for Madison Scott” with the sole purpose to FIND MADDY and bring her home. The poker ride takes place Saturday, May 26. Further information can be found on the Help Find Madison Scott Facebook page or madisonscott.ca, as well as on the numerous event posters on display in the Vanderhoof and Prince George area.
The family encourages the public to participate and help further the search. If anyone knows any information that will lead to the discovery of Maddy’s whereabouts they are asked to call the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment at 250-567-2222 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
A day without a loved one is uncomfortable, a month without a loved one is unbearable and a year without a loved one leads to despair, heartbreak and overwhelming grief. The Scott family appeals to the public, especially as people go out and about in the outdoors this coming summer holiday season, to report anything they find suspicious or of interest to the RCMP. The family is hoping that the break they need will come soon, and it will likely come from good people like you.
Sandra Kelly Klassen
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