Disappearance ruled foul play, Amber Manthorne ‘not likely to be found alive’

Port Alberni RCMP provided new details in the disappearance of Amber Manthorne, who they say is "not likely to be found alive.”

On July 8, 2022 at 7:30 pm, the Port Alberni RCMP received a report that Manthorne was missing from her home on Central Lake Road in Port Alberni.

Just over two years later, Manthorne has still not been found. Investigators said today that her disappearance is believed to be the result of “foul play.”

In the hopes of gaining more information, investigators provided a timeline of events leading up to and following her disappearance, along with video footage and confirmation that her boyfriend at the time, Justin Hall, is considered a person of interest in the case.

Investigators will not be able to question Hall further because he was found dead in Merritt last year shortly before the one year anniversary of Manthorne’s disappearance, thereby “limiting investigators' access to answers.”

Investigators have established some of the movements of Manthorne’s white 2021 Jeep Compass around the time she went missing.

On July 7, 2022 at 3:27 pm, Manthorne was seen alone on CCTV at the Buy Low Foods in the community. There, she purchased some groceries before leaving in her vehicle. A vehicle consistent with hers is then seen driving west on the Pacific Rim Highway near Tseshaht Market at around 3:35 pm. Police say she arrived at her home around that time.

Then, at 12:22 am, Hall placed a call to United Cabs from the Petro Canada on River Road, and 22 minutes later the cab was seen on CCTV near Tseshaht Market going west.

At 4:17 am, “a white SUV consistent with Amber’s” is seen on CCTV driving east on Pacific Rim Highway towards Port Alberni. At 4:50 am, her vehicle entered the Husky fuel station on 3rd Ave in Port Alberni.

It is there that Hall is caught on camera exiting Manthorne’s vehicle from the driver’s seat.

While at the station, he enters and pays for fuel and then returns the car.

Police released footage of Hall going to the back of the car and attempting to put a suitcase from the backseat into the hatchback.

A large tote bin can be seen in the back, which is of interest to investigators as it was not found in her later abandoned vehicle.

At 7 am, Hall made a purchase at the McDonald’s on Johnston Road, and then at Walmart at 9:22 am in Nanaimo.

At 8 am, Manthorne failed to show up for work.

That morning at 10:26 am, her vehicle was again captured on CCTV at the Duke Point ferry terminal in Nanaimo, where Hall is the lone occupant. He purchased ferry ticket, and lined up for the sailing, however Hall is seen leaving the terminal in the car at 11:03 am.

Finally, the following day the Ladysmith RCMP received a report of an abandoned vehicle in a forested area at McGillivray Way and Creekwood Place at 3:08 pm, which turns out to be Manthorne’s vehicle.

Manthorne’s cell phone was never found, and police are asking anyone who may have found it following July 8, 2022, to come forward. The phone had a unique case that had a compartment for carrying credit cards.

"The investigation remained active from the onset with evolving details that investigators needed to assess, manage and explore. If anyone has located, or locates, a bin similar to the one in the CCTV, or a cell phone similar to the one in the photographs, they are urged to call us immediately," says Cst. Beth O’Connor, spokesperson for the Port Alberni RCMP.

"We will keep searching until she’s found but we need your help to bring Amber home to her family."

"Please help us find Amber and bring her home," adds Amber’s mother, Lorraine Murray.

Friends of Manthorne’s are also hoping for answers.

Cheryl Pane, who knew Manthorne from school, said that there is “a void” in their hearts with her gone. She urges anyone with information to come forward.

“There’s no reason to be quiet about this. Justin’s gone. The only thing that they’re hindering is our healing,” she said today following the press conference. “We want to know what happened to her that night. And it's time to step forward and stop being quiet.”

She added that someone may have picked up her phone, not knowing its significance. If so, now is the time to speak up.

“We just want answers,” Pane says.

Although she knew Manthorne well, Pane says that she was not very familiar with her boyfriend.

Manthorne spoke of him every once in a while, however there were things that came out about Hall following her disappearance that “shocked” her friends.

“If there’s anything that we take away from this, it’s that being secretive and not coming forward and asking for help, or telling your story of what's going on, can be detrimental,” Pane said.

The last two years have been “traumatic” for those close to Manthorne as the investigation progressed.

“We're in trauma every time something new comes up,” says Pane. “It kind of puts us back to day one.”

“It just kind of feels like you're running into roadblocks and then different theories coming forward are super hard to hear, but we know that that's what needs to be done to help filter out and help with the investigation as much as we can.”