Police in Yellowknife are continuing to investigate the disappearance of 60-year-old Sladjana Petrovic, last seen on Boxing Day.
Ground Search and Rescue members ended a five-day probe of the downtown area today, but the missing person's investigation is still “very much” active, Insp. Alex Laporte, Yellowknife RCMP detachment commander, told media during a teleconference Friday afternoon.
Petrovic was last seen walking towards Franklin Avenue after leaving her 53 Street apartment around 3:40 p.m on Thursday, Dec. 26.
Laporte said Petrovic was last captured on camera across from Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1), a piece of information released for the first time Friday. Her movements suggested she may have been heading towards Somba K'e Civic Plaza, but Laporte said that could not be confirmed.
Laporte said there is no evidence to suggest Petrovic was met with foul play, but added “all scenarios are still open.”
Sladjana Petrovic, 60, remains the subject of an active missing person's investigation. She was last seen on Dec. 26. Police say there's no evidence to suggest foul play. Dec. 30, 2019
Laporte revealed Friday that banking records confirmed Petrovic has not accessed her account since Dec. 24, two days before she was last seen.
Petrovic, who has been described as “quiet and gentle” by concerned friends, does not own a cell phone and does not have a social media presence.
Yellowknife RCMP have also confirmed Petrovic did not leave Yellowknife by plane. The Serbian-born Petrovic doesn’t have a valid Canadian passport, nor does she have one for her home country, "therefore restricting international travel and the likelihood she would have left Canada," Laporte said.
Yellowknife RCMP have been in close contact with Serbian and other international authorities, along with policing partners in Edmonton and Calgary, according to Laporte.
In the event Petrovic left the territory by vehicle, Mounties in the capital have connected with law enforcement in northern Alberta as well, said Laporte.
Laporte said RCMP continue to be in close contact with Petrovic’s family members abroad, as well as her friends in Yellowknife during this “difficult time.”
While officers aren’t currently conducting ground searches, Laporte said police will follow up on any leads from a “ground search and rescue and investigative perspective.”
Police are again urging the public to come forward with any information related to Petrovic, even if it doesn't seem relevant.
“Any conversation - anything at this point will be of value for the investigators to pursue,” said Laporte.
“We’ll pursue every lead to find Sladjana.”
“We cannot stress the importance of people bringing forward information, any information, on contact they may have had with Sladjana prior to her disappearance. No piece of information is too small for our investigators to follow up on” stated Laporte in a news release issued Friday.
Police describe Petrovic as “Caucasian, 5’7” / 170 cm, 257 lbs / 117 kg, (with a) heavy build, shoulder-length salt and pepper brown hair and blue eyes.”
She was last seen wearing a dark blue jacket, with a light blue liner and a pink/red shirt, along with running shoes. She is seen carrying a grey/black bag or purse.
Anyone with information related to the whereabouts of Sladjana Petrovic is asked to contact either Yellowknife RCMP at 867-669-1111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, nwtnutips.com, (click on “submit a web tip”) or text: nwtnutips to 274637.
Updates to follow.