By: S.M.

Last Updated: 04/13/20

Unidentified Female — Kenora Jane Doe

Discovered June 17, 2009 in Kenora, Ontario

The Discovery — June 17, 2009

On June 17, 2009, a hiker walking close to the Trans-Canada Highway discovered the body of a woman in a small one-person tent, in a wooded area near Miller Rapids Road in Kenora, Ontario.

Sometime during the week prior - as recently as 1 to 2 days before she was found - the woman, nicknamed “Millie,” had pitched her tent on Rideout Bay, along the Winnipeg River, and used a hibachi to cook inside her tent. Her cause of death was accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from the stove.

The woman’s estimated age was 33 to 55 years old. She was white, approximately 5’ 4”, 110 pounds, with shoulder-length brown hair and she wore heavy hiking gear. Her size 5 Rugged Outback hiking boots were sold at Payless, and her size 6P jeans were Midtown brand.

Found inside the tent was a copy of the novel “A Long Way Down” by Nick Hornby, with a bookmark from McNally-Robinson Bookstores (locations in Winnipeg and Saskatoon), a bottle of 13 Pfizer pills and medication for back and muscle pain. She wore oval wire-framed glasses. A beaded necklace and hoop earring were also found inside the tent, along with a black duffel bag. She had $75 cash and $2.84 in change (Canadian currency).

The investigation revealed that “Millie” had at one time undergone reconstruction of the jaw. Her facial bones were surgically cut and then moved, and the upper and lower jaws were re-adjusted, resulting in changes in the facial structure. The procedure was outdated likely done at a major surgical hospital 20 to 30 years prior to the woman’s death when she was in her twenties. The woman likely wore braces in adulthood, and spots on her lower teeth suggest she may have been a smoker.

Basic Information:

• Discovered on: June 17, 2009

• Est. age: 35 to 55

• Gender: Female

• Bio group: White

• Hair: Brown, Shoulder, Light brown almost dark blonde

• Height: 160cm / 5 ft 3 in to 170cm / 5 ft 7 in

Wearing/Distinguishing Features:

• Medication: a container of 13 "Pfizer" pills inside tent, and a two pack of Back and Muscle pain relief pills.

• Foreign Object: Jaw, maxilla-facial surgery, wire sutures in jaw.

• Glasses: Brown, oval lens; wire rim top and rimless bottom with brown arms.

• Jewelry: Yellow, Blue, 3 string beaded necklace (yellow, blue, pink) with a magnetic clip. Hoop earring found in tent.

• Money: $75 in Canadian bills and $2.84 in Canadian coins.

• Boots - Black, "Rugged Outback" ankle height laces; size 5 — Sold at Payless.

Clothing:

• Jeans — Denim, Blue, "Midtown" brand; size 6P

• Shirt — Black, long sleeve

• Gloves — Wool

• Socks — Wool, Grey

• Socks — Cotton, White, thin socks

• Underwear — Cotton, Black, "Jockey" size 5

• Underwear — Cotton, Grey, undershirt with built-in sports bra and thin straps.

• Leggings - Grey

Other:

• The woman was found with a used hard copy of "A Long Way Down" by Nick Hornby, and a bookmark from McNally-Robinson Bookstores.

• Tent was “Eagle Camp” brand

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION + LOCATION:

• Kenora is located in Northwestern Ontario, along the Trans-Canada Highway, with similar proximity to the Manitoba, Minnesota and North Dakota borders. These are possible locations and routes the decedent could have travelled:

• PROXIMITY TO CANADIAN LOCATIONS:

  • Winnipeg, MB: 210 km via Trans-Canada Highway (2 hr. 20 min. drive)

  • Fort Frances, ON + U.S. border at International Falls, MN: 215 km via Trans-Canada Highway/ON-71 S

    (2 hr. 40 min. drive)

  • Brandon, MB: 432 km (4 hr. 30 min. drive)

  • Thunder Bay, ON: 489 km (5 hr. 30 min. drive)

  • Regina, SK: 791 km via Trans-Canada Highway

• PROXIMITY TO U.S. LOCATIONS:

  • Pembina, North Dakota (Manitoba/U.S. border): 292 km via Trans-Canada Highway

  • Grand Rapids, Minnesota:

    • 405 km via Trans-Canada Highway/ON-71 S and MN-6 S

    • 433 km via Trans-Canada Highway/ON-71 S

  • Big Fork, Minnesota: 342 km via Trans-Canada Highway/ON-71 S

  • Fargo, North Dakota:

    • 537 km via Trans-Canada Highway and I-29 S

    • 503 km via MB 308 S

    • 500 km via US-75

The general area (Kenora, Ontario)

Contact Information:

Agency of Jurisdiction
Kenora Ontario Provincial Police
Brittany Dawe
807-548-5534

Government of Canada/Canada’s Missing Case reference: 2009005199

Sources + Additional Information: 

RCMP / NCMPUR

Kenora Online - Can You Help Identify Millie?

DNA Doe Project

Unidentified.wikia.org

The Globe and Mail

Kenora Online - OPP Releases Sketch of Missing Woman

Last Updated: 07/20/20
04/13/20