Dozens of people in Lac La Biche, Alta., took part in a search Saturday for clues about the sudden disappearance of 51-year-old Rosanna Giacobbo.
The woman and her vehicle were last seen on Oct. 2 in the Lac La Biche area, which is about 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Family members said she had plans to go to the Westlock area but haven’t heard from her since last Tuesday.
On Friday, RCMP released a photo of Giacobbo and the vehicle she is believed to be driving, a deep red Ford Explorer with the licence plate CBH 9814.
“It’s a deep red, older model Explorer. Lots of vehicles out there today are silver or white, so red stands out,” longtime friend Dean Torresan told the Lac La Biche Post.
Family and friends organized a localized search centered around the community of Hylo, about 20 kilometres east of Lac La Biche, where Giacobbo had been staying.
The region’s Little Divide Search and Rescue organization and the Lac La Biche RCMP also took part in the search, which saw teams fan out through a large quadrant of rural countryside, with some even checking areas into the neighbouring Athabasca County.
According to the Lac La Biche Post, Giacobbo’s family said she is a kind and funny woman with a big heart. Those attending Saturday’s search expressed concern for her well-being as they shared stories about her good nature and giving spirit.
People who know the woman worry she could be anywhere in Alberta. Giacobbo has ties to the Edmonton area — she lived on the city’s north side for a number of years until recently.
Many hold out hope that she has simply become disoriented and found new acquaintances who may not realize she is missing.
While speaking with the Lac La Biche Post, family members said her phone has not been working, and there has been no activity in her bank accounts since her disappearance.
Police say they are concerned for Giacobbo’s safety due to health-related conditions, and she may be in need of medication. Giacobbo is described as a five-foot-six Caucasian woman with brown hair and green eyes.
A Facebook page called Finding Rosie (Rosanna Giacobbo) has been set up to share information. As of Sunday, there was still no sign of Giacobbo.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Giacobbo or the SUV she’s believed to be driving is asked to contact Lac La Biche RCMP at 780-404-2500.
—With files from Rob McKinley, Lac La Biche Post
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