Dozens of people gathered in Regina’s Core Community Park for a barbecue to recognize the anniversary of the disappearance of Tamra Keepness
Keepness was last seen in her home on July 5th, 2004 and has been missing ever since. She was just 5 years old at the time.
Regina Police Chief Evan Bray says it’s amazing to see the community still come together almost two decades later.
“I think this barbecue, this is a way to bring community together on an annual basis to remember, to support one another, but also to spark the conversation and remind people that we’re still looking, we’re still searching, and we still need that piece of information that hopefully will help us bring Tamra home.”
Bray says RPS receives countless tips every year following the barbecue which they dive into hoping it’s the piece that finds Tamra.
Erica Beaudin with RT/SIS says while many may lose hope about ever finding Tamra, it’s their job to keep that hope alive.
“The hope that we have is to have Tamra come home, but also support for the family. Our hope is always there, but even when family loses hope that’s what we do,” said Beaudin. “We step in and hold that hope, that space for them until they can feel that hope again that their loved one will be coming home.”
Beaudin says Tamra’s disappearance has resonated in the community for so long, that many feel like part of their family is missing.
Chief Bray says sometimes investigations can go on for years with nothing and then dramatically shift into high gear with one clue, pointing to recent case involving Patrick Thauberger, which had been open since 1997 before being solved this year.
He adds Tamra can still be found.
“That is very, very possible, it’s important from an investigative standpoint that we always keep that file open and look for more information,” said Bray. “But I think for the family, and for the community, it’s important for them to know that we are still making this priority one, we’re still looking at every tip we can get, every piece of information that potentially could bring Tamra home.”
Anyone with any information on the disappearance of Tamra Keepness is asked to call Regina Police at 306-777-6500, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
