MISSING CASE HIGHLIGHT: NEW BRUNSWICK
Disappearance Category: Foul Play
Disappeared From: Moncton, New Brunswick
Missing Date: July 2, 1975
Age: 7
Race: White
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Brown
Teeth: Good
Clothing: Red and white checkered t-shirt, blue shorts, blue knee socks and size 3 navy blue sandals
T
he summer of 1975 was carefree for most families in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Although the recent recession left many people out of work, there were backyard BBQs, cold beer and Captain & Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together” — the #1 song in Canada that summer. Kids played on the street, in each other’s back yards, or at the park.
Those innocent days were shattered with the disappearance of 7 year-old Michelle Wedge on July 2nd.
No one really noticed that Michelle hadn’t returned home after her bike ride. She left shortly after 8:30 p.m. Her parents had left Michelle in the care of her older brother, but he had friends over and didn’t realize she wasn’t home until her older sister got home around 9 p.m.
The siblings went out looking for Michelle and her brother found her locked Mustang bicycle on the southwest corner of John and Dominion Streets only a few houses from her home on Dominion St.
A witness later told police they saw a young girl getting into a car at that intersection that night.
Authorities suspect foul play.
“We need tips and information from the public. We do believe someone, somewhere knows what happened.”
—RCMP Const. Isabelle Beaulieu
SPECULATION
This case was probably a stranger abduction.
Two girls reported to have seen Michelle get into a car with a man. The girls said the same man had tried to lure them into his car earlier that evening.
The man was described as:
- Mid- to Late-20s
- Dark complexion
- Thick black hair and eyebrows
- Thin mustache, full beard
- Thick-rimmed glasses
- Spoke with a strange voice (perhaps an accent?)
- May walk with a slight limp
The man was driving a small, green car with a black interior.
Moncton police have doubts about the witness’s description of this man. It almost seems like they pulled together every sinister characteristic they could think of into one suspect. For that reason, a sketch of the man has not been released.
Police did say they had stopped someone matching the description but he was released without further investigation.
Other witnesses, however, have corroborated seeing the small, green car.
Michelle was most likely lured into a car, being that she took the time to lock up her bike on the corner. Chances are she is no longer alive and that her abductor/killer is a pedophile who did this before Michelle went missing and/or after.
LEFT: Michelle Wedge at 7 years-old, RIGHT: Enhanced photo of Michelle Wedge age 34 years-old
Michelle Wedge’s bicycle was found locked at the southwest corner of John and Dominion Streets in Moncton, NB.
Investigating Agencies
Codiac Regional RCMP: 506-857-2400
Reference Case#: 2010120833
Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or online at https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtipsstart.aspx
Crime Stoppers provides anonymous tipping
Send email to the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains at:
canadasmissing-disparuscanada@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Case reference: 2002005560