EARLY LIFE:
Andria Meise was born in Dawson Creek, British Columbia on May 16, 1978. The oldest of four siblings, which included sisters Danielle and Robin, the family eventually moved to Kelowna, where the children would grow up.
Those who knew Andria describe her as having been a free spirit, a person who had a lot of resilience and who wasn’t afraid of being adventurous. She also had another side to her, the girl who was shy, but always friendly. According to Danielle, she was the type of person who would give you the shirt off her back if you were in need of it.
Andria’s childhood was one of instability. She was removed from her home numerous times by Social Services and placed into foster care, where she was abused. Danielle recalls her sister leaving the house often when she was around 14 years of age, and by the time she was 16, she had completely gone.
Around this time, Andria began to dabble in illegal drugs and soon became addicted, as did Danielle. This led her to lead what has been deemed a “high-risk” transient lifestyle, which would result in Andria working in the sex trade in order to support her addiction. When working the streets, Andria always took her safety into consideration. She would refuse those who gave her a bad feeling, and she enlisted Danielle to work as her spotter for three years. Her job was to ensure license plates, dates and times, and drop off and pick up locations were documented, should anything happen to her sister. However, despite being cautious, there were times when Andria would return with bruises on her face.
Andria was the mother of three children and would also work as a server and a house cleaner to support her family.
DISAPPEARANCE:
Danielle last saw her sister in 2006. When she lost contact with her, she tried to report Andria as missing to the RCMP, but they wouldn’t make a file. She would try again numerous times over the years, but to no avail. It wasn’t until November 2012 that the RCMP detachment in Kelowna would officially list Andria as a missing person. According to missing persons posters, the date of her disappearance is listed as November 19, 2012, six years after Danielle last saw her sister.
According to Robin, she saw her sister leave Kelowna for Fort St. John, British Columbia in 2008. This is where the last paper record of Andria is found, with her address listed in the 8500 block of 85th Avenue.
INVESTIGATION:
Danielle feels the RCMP didn’t initially take Andria’s disappearance seriously due to her drug use and work as a prostitute.
The investigation revealed that Andria may have moved to Calgary, Alberta at some point during mid-2008. When one of her uncles was spoken to, he recalled seeing her at a Tim Horton’s in downtown Grand Prairie, Alberta sometime between June and September 2010. As he hadn’t realized his niece was missing, he didn’t attempt to make contact or confirm if the woman he’d seen was actually her. After speaking with additional witnesses and exploring other investigative avenues, the RCMP determined this sighting had actually occurred in 2008.
After it was established Andria was sighted in Alberta, the investigation was transferred to the Grande Prairie detachment of the RCMP.
Andria’s transient lifestyle has played a big role in the investigation. As she was known to be a frequent traveller, investigators have had to consider the possibility she could be in a number of places, including Vancouver, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Prince George, Calgary and Kelowna. Given such a long list of possible locations, it’s been difficult for investigators to determine where to focus their investigation.
According to the RCMP, the investigation is still active, with officers having followed up on numerous pieces of information over the years. They have pursued every avenue and will continue to do so until Andria is located. They have shared that they believe there is someone out there with information that could further the case and possibly bring about a resolution.
Danielle feels things could have turned out differently if the Kelowna RCMP had taken her earlier missing person reports seriously. Overall, she has given the investigation into her sister’s disappearance a moderate rating, but shares that she and Robin feel they’re running out of options. While those around them have said the pair should just get over Andria’s disappearance, they say they’re afraid to grieve, in case she’s found alive.
Robin is said to be the one who communicates with those in charge of the case.
AFTERMATH:
Danielle and Robin have said their feelings about Andria’s disappearance are still fresh. They are unable to grieve because they don’t know what’s happened to their sister.
One of Andria’s daughters has since graduated college and is said to be working in the culinary arts.
Robin now lives in Moncton, New Brunswick, where she works as an Aboriginal artist.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Andria Lucille Meise was reportedly last seen in Grande Prairie, Alberta in 2008. She was 30 years old, and what she was last seen wearing is currently unknown. At the time of her disappearance, she stood anywhere from 5’8″ to 5’11” and weighed between 135 and 141 pounds. She had shoulder-length dark brown hair, but is known to regularly dye her hair, and her eyes are brown. She has a scar three inches below her bellybutton that extends downward, the result of a surgery she underwent after being thrown across a room at three years old.
She is known to sometimes use her father’s last name. She has gone by the aliases “Andria Woodhouse”, “Andy” and “Angie” in the past.
Currently, her case is classified as a missing person. If alive, she would be 41 years old.
Those with information regarding the case are asked to contact Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5700. Tips can also be submitted anonymous via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Image Credit: Windspeaker.com
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