AMHERST – Police still have no leads in the case of a missing woman who left Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre in Amherst last month, and say it is possible she may not be whom everyone thinks.
Part of the RCMP’s ongoing investigation is focusing on who Katherine McNeil really is. Sources revealed to the Amherst Daily News the Katherine McNeil police are looking for may be using the identity of a deceased sibling and could, in fact, be Elizabeth McNeil.
“I can tell you as part of our investigation it is something we’re looking at,” Const. Dal Hutchinson said. “There is rumour she may be using the name of a sister who has been deceased for the better part of 20 years, but I can’t confirm or deny that. We are looking at that as part of the investigation.”
McNeil, 57, discharged herself from the hospital Oct. 4, and seemingly disappeared without a trace. Ground Search and Rescue was called to scour wooded areas near the hospital until RCMP called off the search when evidence showed McNeil had bought shoes at a nearby store.
A handful of sightings made in Amherst following the search whittled down to nothing as time went by, causing concern for police.
“We’ve had nothing whatsoever,” Hutchison said. “There’s nothing new, no sightings. I think it’s a concern she hasn’t tried to contact us whatsoever.”
Hutchinson said McNeil is well connected with communities in Cumberland County and hopes someone will let authorities know if she is OK, but people close to her have reported McNeil is known to relocate without telling anyone.
She was evicted from a rental property last May and was camping in the River Hebert area with her horse, two dogs and several cats before being admitted to hospital Oct. 3.
A family member reported McNeil suffers from a brain injury, a non-malignant brain tumor.
She is known to wear a cowboy hat. Anyone with any information about McNeil’s location is asked to call the RCMP Cumberland Detachment at (902) 667-3859.
