Janice Cher Desjarlais, 35 and a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, disappeared in Fort McMurray on October 1, 2010 after seeking shelter in a large commercial dumpster behind the Centre of Hope on Franklin Avenue. Known as Jazz or Jazzy to her loved ones, she was with her boyfriend; he left about 7:30 a.m. to get breakfast and returned roughly an hour later to find the dumpster empty. Janice was reported missing on October 3, 2010.

RCMP investigators obtained surveillance video that corroborated the boyfriend’s account. The footage shows him leaving alone and records a garbage truck emptying the dumpster at 8:22 a.m., with no one seen entering or leaving the bin beforehand. That led to the concern she may have been inside when the dumpster was serviced.

A large search at the local landfill began on October 5, 2010. For nine days investigators excavated an area the size of a football field to a depth of two meters, but nothing belonging to Janice was recovered. She is described as Indigenous, 5 feet 6 inches, about 240 pounds, with long black hair, brown eyes and a scorpion tattoo on her right leg; she was believed to be wearing a black jacket with a panther logo and black pants.

If anyone knew Janice, saw her that morning, or has information about her whereabouts, please come forward.