Mystery surrounding disappearance of Hamilton woman yet to be solved more than 20 years later

This week on the Tracking a Killer: The Cold Case Files podcast, Fil Martino and Madison Fitzpatrick take a look at the unsolved disappearance of 29-year-old Sheryl Sheppard from Hamilton, Ontario.

Sheryl Sheppard was a former exotic dancer turned baker who was newly engaged to Michael Lavoie. He had proposed to her on live TV.

She disappeared days later, in January 1998. Police say it was like she vanished off the face of the earth and the last person to see her was her fiancé. According to investigators, Lavoie had dropped Sheppard off at an adult entertainment club in Niagara Falls. Sheppard has not been seen or heard from since.

Sheppard’s mother Audette Belmore is now 78. She has never given up on trying to find out what happened to her daughter.

“I hope somebody could come forward and tell me and police where she is. At least I could put her at rest,” said Belmore.

Detective Sergeant Jason Cattle with Hamilton Police, has been working on the case and says the hardest part of this investigation is that there is no physical evidence.

“It’s not like we have DNA at a scene or clothing found somewhere or partial remains. We literally have nothing to go on. That’s what makes this case so difficult,” said Det. Sgt. Cattle.

Police are urging anyone with information about Sheppard’s disappearance to give them a call. You can also contact Crime Stoppers with any tips anonymously.