Missing Children Society of Canada: Sigourney Chisholm Located, Ending 18 Year Abduction Investigation

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 2, 2011) - The Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) is pleased to comment on the successful investigation and location of Sigourney Chisholm. The location of Sigourney and the arrest of her abducting mother were confirmed today at the Toronto Police Service's press conference, marking the end of an 18 year investigation for the girl who was abducted in 1993 at the age of 1 year old. Sigourney, now 20, and her mother had been living under assumed identities. Toronto Police closed in on the mother recently following information provided by MCSC.

"Seeing this case come to a close is incredibly exciting and moving for us at MCSC," said Amanda Pick, Executive Director of MCSC. "Our Investigators have been working on this case, assisting law enforcement and Sigourney's father, for nearly 2 decades. This is one of the longest-term cases we have on file, and it renews our hope and determination for our many other cases."

"This is an important day for our organization, which just marked 25 years in the search for missing children. And this is an important day for our searching families," continued Pick. "It proves that no matter what, if a child has been missing for 18 minutes or 18 years, we will never give up the search."

The closing of this case is particularly significant for MCSC's Manager of Investigation, Wendy Christensen. A former serving member with the RCMP, Christensen had the following comments:

"Now that Sigourney has been located, there will be a long road of healing and challenges for the family. It is our hope that people will respect the privacy of the family at this emotional time and their difficult journey ahead.

Since Sigourney's disappearance we have actively investigated any and all TIPS which have come into our office and worked hand in hand with law enforcement to ensure that they were always provided with our investigative findings. In this particular case, MCSC received a TIP which, after further investigation, we felt confident that it would bring much needed closure to Sigourney's disappearance. As is our practice we forwarded this information to the Toronto Police Service for further investigation.

Over the past 25 years North Americans have contacted MCSC with information which, for their own reasons, they chose not to bring to the attention of law enforcement. This investigation is an example of what can be accomplished when we all work together to ensure that our primary objective of locating missing children is met.

I can't tell you how many law enforcement officers and police agencies in North America and other countries have been involved in this investigation over the years - there have been many. We are humbled by their efforts and unwavering dedication. To the members of the Toronto Police Service, and to law enforcement agencies in BC who assisted Toronto Police in this portion of the investigation, we thank you for everything you have done. It is through partnerships such as this that we make the world of anyone who chooses to take a child a very small place. To each and every individual who has called MCSC and law enforcement agencies with information over the past 18 years, we thank you most of all as without you, none of this would be possible."

MCSC encourages anyone with information about a missing child to contact them confidentially at 1-800-661-6160 or tips@mcsc.ca. To view their online directory of missing children, or to support their investigations by making a donation, visit them online at www.mcsc.ca.

Since 1986, the Missing Children Society of Canada has been reuniting missing children with their searching families through professional investigations, public awareness and family support programs. MCSC's team of former police detectives and trained investigators work closely with law enforcement while conducting frontline, hands-on investigative and search activities.