Family of missing woman issues plea to help find daughter

Woodstock Police are asking for help from the public to find 31-year-old Felicia who hasn’t been seen since early August. (Woodstock Police Photo)

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The parents of 31-year-old Felicia want their daughter to be found and come home.

The missing woman has been living on the streets of Woodstock for over a decade but hasn’t been seen since early August.

Felicia is described as being 5 foot 1 and 130 pounds with shoulder-length, light brown hair.

The Echo reached out to her parents, Trevor and Bobbie, who are Sarnia natives but now reside in London. Bobbie said her daughter could normally be found downtown.

“In the last couple of years, I have been going to visit her every six months. We have been raising her daughter, who is 14. I never had a problem finding her. If I didn’t see her directly at first, I would just ask people who looked homeless if they knew her and they would lead me to her.”

She added people from Operation Sharing and even the Woodstock Police Service were familiar with Felicia so she was well-known and recognized by the homeless community.

“Now all of a sudden anyone I talk to hasn’t seen her and everyone’s story leads to August. What I know of the police investigation is that she didn’t report to probation on Aug. 8. On the 25th of November her boyfriend, Andrew, was released from jail and he couldn’t find her. He went to the police that night and reported her missing.”

The couple lived together on the streets of Woodstock for 10 years.

Bobbie said one homeless person she talked to said Felicia was escorted out of a shelter and that appears to be the last time anyone saw her daughter. Woodstock Police put a post on Facebook asking for the public’s help to find the missing woman. Bobbie explained the comments all point to that fateful day in August.

“She hasn’t collected her welfare since August. She isn’t in a hospital or jail. That I know. I asked if there was a Jane Doe at the morgue and there is not.”

Bobbie added a homeless man potentially is the last person to see Felicia before she disappeared.

“He seems to know everything about everyone. He said he saw her willingly get into a vehicle in August across the street (from Operation Sharing) in a red car with two guys.”

Bobbie’s husband Trevor said the two men had shirts that said “something, cheese factory.”

Any security camera footage that could have captured the alleged event is not available. Another report the couple received came from a woman who offered to walk Felicia home from Dairy Queen on Dundas Street as she was afraid of a man who allegedly had a gun.

“She said I don’t have a home and you are safer if you just leave. The police have contacted the woman so I don’t know of anything has come of that but it’s all the same timing. I myself saw her in late July or early August and she told me she was waiting for Andrew to get out of jail in November.”

Everyone ending up homeless and living on the street or in an encampment has a story behind why they are there. As Woodstock residents know all too well, mental health and addiction is a common denominator.

“She was diagnosed as bipolar but never had any medical help with that. As a teen, she started to run away and get herself in trouble and was in and out of juvenile detention centres,” said Bobbie.

Felicia went to Woodstock as a teenager but came back home to Sarnia She was 17 and pregnant to give birth to her daughter, Olivia before heading back to Woodstock.

“I can’t force her as an adult to get medical help or help with her addiction. I just accepted that she lived on the streets and took care of Olivia,” she added.

The couple has some advice for parents who may see warning signs from a child.

“Pay more attention to your kids,” said Trevor. Bobbie added looking back she shouldn’t have accepted that her daughter chose to live that lifestyle. “Maybe I could have advocated more for her.”

One term that has been tossed around recently to help with homelessness and the issues that go along with it is forced rehabilitation. The couple didn’t hesitate in their support for the idea.

“Oh yes. 100 per cent,” said Bobbie. “You kinda have to force them,” added Trevor.

“I can’t help her with her medical and addiction issues, but I can help her after that. We want her to be a part of her daughter’s life,” added Bobbie.

No one would argue this is a heartbreaking situation for any family to endure. Trevor was able to share some heartwarming moments when Felicia was young.

“When I was driving a tow truck and going out of town, she always wanted to come with me everywhere. We had a really good relationship. There were never any problems between us.”

When asked what message they wanted to give their daughter if she is able to see this story, Trevor said they just want her to come home safe.

“We want her to contact us. We want her back and we will do whatever we can to help her. Whatever she needs, we will be here for her,” added Bobbie.

The couple say Oliva wants her mom to come home safe, as does her entire family.

Anyone with information about Felicia's whereabouts is urged to contact the Woodstock Police Service at 519-537-2323.