A missing Port Alberni woman is believed to be dead, and her late boyfriend is a person of interest in the case, RCMP said Wednesday.
Amber Manthorne was last seen on July 7, 2022.
At a Wednesday news conference, police said they hoped releasing the information would advance the investigation, since Manthorne’s boyfriend, Justin Hall, was found dead in Merritt last year, which “has limited our access to possible answers.”
They also released a CCTV video showing Hall with Manthorne’s vehicle at the 3rd Avenue Husky gas station in Port Alberni, hours after she was last seen.
The video shows Hall pulling over in the white 2021 Jeep Compass and taking a suitcase out of the backseat of the vehicle, then attempting to put it in the rear cargo area. It won’t fit due to a bulky bin in that area, so he returns it to the backseat.
The suitcase was recovered but not the bin.
Police are also looking for Manthorne’s cellphone and have released a picture of it, noting that it appears to have a place on the outside shell to carry credit cards.
Hall’s name came up in early reports after Manthorne’s disappearance, which said she might be in his company. Later, however, police said Hall had been located. A message from his email address sent to CHEK News said: “… I did not hurt my girlfriend. I do not know why she isn’t back home.”
Manthorne’s disappearance brought out hundreds of volunteers to search an area just outside the city near her home at Great Central Lake.
The search shifted to the Cassidy area after her vehicle was found there on July 9.
Manthorne’s friend Kristie St. Claire said she has seen the video and spoken to police, and was pleased that police had released more details.
More of the timeline around the time Manthorne disappeared is now known, including what Hall was doing, St. Claire said.
“That helps us to know where he went during the time that it’s suspected her remains may have been in the vehicle,” she said. “We’re hoping this will narrow the scope of potential searching areas or narrow the scope of potential friends or contacts of Justin’s that he may have met up with or connected with.”
While she appreciates knowing more about the case, St. Claire said it’s difficult to hear.
“It kind of brings everything back up again,” said St. Claire, who used to ride the bus to junior high school with Manthorne. “It chokes you up a little in the throat and the chest.”
She said that Manthorne was about to be a maid of honour at a friend’s wedding before she disappeared.
She ran her own cleaning company while also working in a retail marine store and a photography business, St. Claire said.
“She did house sitting and animal care at times, as well, so she was trusted by others.”
Manthorne’s mother Lorraine Murray said in a statement: “Please help us find Amber and bring her home.”
St. Claire said she checked in with Murray this week to see how she is doing.
“Her words were: ‘Just one day at a time,” she said. “It’s sad.”
Port Alberni RCMP spokesperson Const. Beth O’Connor said if anyone has located, or locates, a bin similar to the one in the CCTV, or a cellphone similar to the one in the photographs, they should call police immediately. “We will keep searching until she’s found, but we need your help to bring Amber home to her family.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424 or their local police, or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Here is the timeline released by police:
July 7, 2022, at 3:27 p.m. — Manthorne is seen alone on CCTV at Buy Low Foods in Port Alberni, where she purchases some grocery items and leaves in her vehicle.
July 7, 2022, at 3:35 p.m. — A white SUV consistent with Manthorne’s heads west on Pacific Rim Highway near the Tseshaht Market, then Manthorne arrives home.
July 8, 2022, 12:22 a.m. — Hall calls United Cabs from the Petro-Canada on River Road, and 22 minutes later a cab is seen on CCTV travelling west near the Tseshaht Market.
July 8, 2022, at 4:17 a.m. — A white SUV consistent with Manthorne’s is seen on CCTV heading west on the Pacific Rim Highway toward Port Alberni.
July 8, 2022, at 4:50 a.m. — Manthorne ’s vehicle enters the Husky gas station on 3rd Avenue in Port Alberni. The vehicle pulls up to the pump and Hall gets out of the driver’s seat, enters the store and pays for fuel. He tries to place a suitcase from the backseat into the rear cargo area, but it won’t fit, so he returns it to the backseat.
July 8, 2022, at 7:02 a.m. — Manthorne’s vehicle is seen on CCTV at the McDonald’s on Johnston Road, where Hall makes a purchase.
July 8, 2022, at 8 a.m. — Manthorne fails to show up for work.
July 8, 2022, at 9:22 a.m. — Hall makes a purchase at Walmart in Nanaimo.
July 8, 2022, at 10:26 a.m. — Manthorne’s vehicle is seen on CCTV at the Duke Point ferry terminal. Hall, the lone occupant, buys a ferry ticket and gets in line for the ferry.
July 8, 2022, at 11:03 a.m. — Manthorne’s vehicle is seen on CCTV leaving the ferry terminal with Hall driving.
July 9, 2022, at 3:08 p.m. — Ladysmith RCMP respond to a report and locate Manthtorne’s vehicle abandoned at McGillivray Way and Creekwood Place.
