Community keeps hope alive on 20th anniversary of disappearance of Tamra Keepness
Friday marks 20 years since the disappearance of Tamra Keepness but the community continues to keep hope alive.
An annual barbeque was held on Friday afternoon in the area where Keepness was last seen, with community members, police, and family taking part.
Keepness, who was five years old at the time of her disappearance, was last seen at her home in the 1800 block of Ottawa Street around 11 p.m. on July 5, 2004. She was reported missing on July 6, 2004.
Over the last 20 years, the Regina Police Service (RPS) has conducted hundreds of interviews and followed up on thousands of leads and tips. However, she has never been found, with no explanation on how or why she disappeared.
“It’s so sad, like to think about Tamra would have been 25 today. I heard that she’s a twin and she would have been involved with the community because a lot of her family is involved,” said Ivy Kennedy with Women of the Dawn.
Shylo Stevenson was part of a team that had come from Kamsack who has taken part in searches.
“Still carrying this 20 years later, it still pulls on the heartstrings and just knowing the family and knowing other searchers and it’s just, the City of Regina all grew up with this,” he said.
Police feel there is more awareness now of all missing people. They say Tamra represents that and it can be used collectively to create hope for others.
“Just to know that we don’t forget. It’s something that we’re always looking for. We’re always taking new tips and investigating. It’s still an open file so it’s important that everybody knows that it’s not forgotten and that we work together,” Laurel Marshall, executive officer with RPS, said.
Tamra's case was highlighted in a documentary television show, Never Seen Again, which aired in 2022.
Two episodes were dedicated to the case, which had interviews with Tamra’s mother, Lorena Keepness, as well as her siblings, investigators, and people involved in the case from the beginning.
A $50,000 reward for information leading to Tamra's whereabouts was renewed by police in December of 2023.
Tamra Keepness would now be 25 years old.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.3960391.1554513210!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpeg)
Woman dies at Rolling Stones concert in Vancouver
A woman attending the Rolling Stones concert at BC Place died Friday night, police confirmed.
Terrorism charges laid against B.C. woman who married ISIS fighter
A B.C. woman who was repatriated from a Syrian prison camp in 2022 has been arrested and charged with terrorism offences, police announced Saturday.
This Italian vacation hotspot is turning tourists away as it runs out of water
Set atop a hill on the Italian island of Sicily, Agrigento is a heritage tourist’s paradise. But the aqueduct, and others built in modern times, are running so dry that small hotels and guesthouses in the city and nearby coast are being forced to turn tourists away.
Jon Landau, Oscar-winning 'Titanic' and 'Avatar' producer, dies at 63
Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who worked closely with director James Cameron on three of the biggest blockbusters of all time, 'Titanic' and two 'Avatar' films, has died. He was 63.
Radio host who interviewed Biden says aides provided questions in advance
U.S. President Joe Biden’s team provided a list of questions to a radio host who interviewed the president this week in the aftermath of his debate performance, the host told CNN.
ANALYSIS Why are Trudeau and Singh avoiding Stampede this year?
This year, only Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will be saddling up for the event, while both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh will stay away.
Here are some safety tips if you're travelling alone this summer
Though travelling by yourself can be scary and intimidating, there are some ways to make sure you’re safe and have a good time, says a solo travel and content creator from Ottawa.
Saskatoon man charged for leaving hate comments on woman’s obituary pleads guilty
The man who left hate comments on a murder victim’s online obituary has been sentenced.
Alleged accomplice of Quebec gang leader Dave 'Pic' Turmel arrested in B.C.
Another alleged accomplice of the leader of the Blood Family Mafia (BFM), Dave 'Pic' Turmel, has been arrested by the RCMP.