At a wind-blown Sunnidale Park on Tuesday, the family of 26-year-old Autumn Shaganash gathered to mark two years to the day since the Barrie woman was last heard from.
During an emotional news conference, Autumn's sister, uncle, and a cousin spoke to the media about the gut-wrenching journey they have been on since she went missing.
"We have never given up hope," said Lili Moore, Autumn's sister.
Her last known location was captured on home video surveillance in the area of Anne Street near Sunnidale Park on June 10, 2023.
Autumn was walking with a man, and each of them was carrying a ski.
Barrie police have stated that they were headed to the waterfront to watch an air show, but Autumn never made it.
In a news release issued last June, investigators said the man who was with Autumn was walking just ahead of her and at one point looked back and Autumn was no longer following him.
"She just vanished into thin air, without a sound or cry for help, she was gone and never seen or heard from again," according to the news release.
Police said around that time, there was an ALS fundraising walk in Sunnidale Park, and that Autumn had been in the area of Sunndiale Road and Letitia Street between 10 a.m. and noon.
Autumn's family reported her missing two days later.
At Tuesday's news conference, Lili told Barrie 360 that her sister had known the man she was walking with for about two weeks.
She confirmed police have interviewed him several times and that she and her family had contact with him in the first year since Autumn disappeared.
"We'd speak with him and talk to him, and ask him questions. Even though he was cooperative and never push us away or anything like that, I feel like he could have something to do with her because no one just disappears, and she would have returned home."
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Lili received a text from Autumn on the morning of June 10, 2023, asking her sister to come pick her up.
"I didn't get to my phone right away until three minutes later. She didn't respond to me. I thought her phone was dead and that she might charge it and text me, or call me. Her phone has been off since June 10th."
Lili says she works full time and does a lot of overtime at her job.
"It keeps me sane."
At the time of her disappearance, Autumn was wearing tan-coloured leggings, slip on Puma sandals, a black hoodie and she was carrying a black and tan purse.
Autumn's 84-year-old grandmother, Minnie, attended the news conference, sitting on a walker, holding pictures of her granddaughter.
"Usually, Autumn would call her grandma every night," said Clare Moore, Autumn's uncle. "This hasn't happened in two years. It's been a struggle to watch my mom worry, sad and lonely for her granddaughter. There is nothing I would wish upon anyone to live with this every day. It's not nice living like this every day."
He is convinced someone knows what has happened to Autumn.
"She cannot disappear like this on her own."
Through tears, Autumn's cousin Kimberly Moore said they miss her so much.
"It's been a hell of a two years. I hope she is alive. I hope that she comes back someday. I hate saying someday. I want her to come back now. We are the voice for Autumn right now."
In January 2024, the family hired a private investigator to assist in efforts to find Autumn.
A month later, police announced a $50,000 reward for information about Autumn's whereabouts.
At Tuesday's news conference, Barrie police communications coordinator Peter Leon told Barrie 360 there have been extensive searches in Sunnidale Park for Autumn.
The family has raised suggestions in the past and at Tuesday's news conference that Autumn may have been caught up in human trafficking.
"Every aspect of Autumn's disappearance is being looked at and examined very closely by the Major Crime Unit of the Barrie Police Service. Certainly, this is an element we are aware of," said Leon.
During June, Leon said the public will see three electronic billboards in the city, courtesy of Pattison Outdoor Advertising, that will display a picture of Autumn.
"We're asking the public for their assistance, no matter how small the information may be. If somebody has information about Autumn, we're asking them to reach out to Barrie police or their local police service."
