WINNIPEG — Winnipeg police continued Wednesday to search for a Winnipeg mom missing after her two young children were found dead in a bathtub in their home.
Lisa Gibson, 32, is about five-foot-five, has short light red hair and a slim build. She was last seen in the Westwood area.
“She was last with the children,” Winnipeg Police Service Const. Eric Hofley said. “At this point, absolutely, we need to speak with Ms. Gibson and try to find out what happened.”
Police received reports from businesses along Portage Avenue that Gibson was seen walking in the area. One woman said she was pushing an empty stroller.
“I was just opening up the shop and there was a lady that passed by; I didn’t think anything of it. I looked out the window and she passed by with a stroller,” said Raisal Maxwell of Fly Salon. “Nothing in the stroller, just casually walking.” Maxwell said officers showed her a picture of Gibson and she confirmed it was a photo of the woman she saw walking.
Officers also responded to reports Gibson was seen at a Tim Hortons coffee shop at Portage Avenue and Parkdale Street.
Police were called to Gibson’s Westwood home at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning to check on the well-being of her family and found what emergency workers called a “horrible” and “tragic” scene.
Neighbours said the house at 3 Coleridge Park Dr. is home to Gibson, her husband and their two young children: a baby boy and two-year-old girl. Family confirmed the information.
Neighbour Randy Pittner told Global News the children were found in a bathtub by their grandmother early Wednesday morning.
“I guess she had depression issues and the grandmother was coming over every day to help her out with the kids and the husband was at work,” Pittner said.
Earl Gould, another neighbour, described Gibson as a “nice, quiet lady.”
The father, Brian Gibson, arrived at the house later in the morning and then left with police.
The police searched for Lisa Gibson in various areas and water rescue units were seen on the river.
“We have several units on scene searching businesses, (the) river,” Hofley said at a police news conference.
“It is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends, emergency personnel that have to deal with this,” he added. “All will be deeply affected by an incident like this.”
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