Re-enactment video released in decades-old missing girl case

(Update)

Toronto police are shedding new light on a case that’s nearly three decades old, involving the disappearance of a young girl — who they believe is still alive.
Exactly 29-years ago today, eight-year old Nicole Morin went missing without a trace, launching one of the largest investigations in Toronto police history.  Today, the force revealed a new social media campaign to help solve this case.

Eight year old Nicole Morin vanished exactly 29 years ago without a trace. She left her apartment to meet a friend in the building’s lobby, taking the elevator to the ground floor. But Morin never ended up meeting that friend. Her neighbours still remember the young girl.

Anne is a neighbour: “As a young child, certainly full of her own energy if you will, with her friends, it’s all very tragic.”

Marie is a neighbour: “Absolutely shocking to hear what happened. I used to go by, like when I went into town on the bus, I used to look in all the windows hoping I’d see her Iittle face somewhere.”

Morin’s disappearance sparked one of the most intensive investigations in Canadian history. Over 15-thousand hours of police work have been logged, but not a single clue has turned up.

She said goodbye to her mother for what would be the last time and disappeared without a trace.

On the 29th anniversary of Morin’s abduction, the force is launching this Crime Stoppers’ re-enactment video aimed at renewing public interest.

Chris Scherk is with Crime Stoppers: “If someone does know, it’s easy for them to forget about it, they might have a tip, they don’t feel comfortable going to the police, it’s easy to bury it. When it’s current and they are walking into Mac’s Milk and see that video, it draws on their heart strings, it might make them call us.”

Police say one of the biggest challenges with this case was the sheer scope of the investigation. At the time of Nicole’s disappearance, this 21-storey apartment building held roughly 14-hundred people. And including the surrounding apartment buildings, police were canvassing an area with about 5,000 people.

Age enhancement photos are constantly updated and police continue to have a team of investigators on the case.

Toronto police Det. Sgt Madelaine Tretter: “We do receive information all the time, get reports of sightings, we obeying the all of those. We have no reason to believe she’s not alive as well. We live with hope we will find her alive.”

And those who knew her also hold out hope.

Anne: “I hope that is. That she will be found, that she is still alive, that she’s somewhere. She probably knows that her mother passed away. And if she wants to come and visit Anne, tell her that Anne is still waiting to open the door for her.”

Morin’s father Art, wasn’t at the news conference today, but police say he is still hopeful that his daughter will be found alive. Police are urging the public to watch the minute long video and if it stirs up any memories, to please call them or call Crime Stoppers where tips can be left anonymously.Anyone with information is being asked to call Toronto Police or Crime Stoppers.   Twitter and Facebook accounts have also been created under the hashtag “#findnicole.”