New testing being done in evidence for Tamra Keepness disappearance

As police in Regina renew the reward in her case, they’re also talking about new hope in the Tamra Keepness disappearance.

In 2004, five-year-old Keepness went missing from her Regina home – she hasn’t been seen or heard from since. The missing girl captured the hearts and worries of the community, and a barbecue is still held every summer to keep up awareness of the case.

On Wednesday, police said a new cold case coordinator was appointed this year, who took another look at each case.

This year, police received five new tips in the Keepness case, and evidence had been sent away to Ottawa to be tested with new technology.

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“With the advancement of technology, there’s the ability for us to take a look at the evidence that we have, and so sending that away because DNA technology has advanced… and hopefully there might be some information that we can glean from that when it comes back that might help us out,” said Police Chief Lorilee Davies about extra testing.

The information came out as the Regina Board of Police Commissioners agreed to continue the $50,000 rewards for information in the Keepness case, as well as the Htoo/Maw triple murder case in 2010.

In August 2010, 31 year-old Gray Nay Htoo, 28-year-old Maw Maw and three-year-old Seven June Htoo were found dead in a home in Regina’s Uplands neighbourhood. They were Karen refugees who’d come to Regina from a refugee camp in Thailand.

Davies said both cases had a big impact on the community and there are still questions that remain unanswered.

“We still believe there are people in the community who have answers, who might just be able to provide that little piece of information we need to put together that whole puzzle,” she explained.

Davies said, with the passage of time, sometimes people’s circumstances change and this might be the year they feel comfortable coming to police.

Regina Police Chief Lorilee Davies (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

The recent conviction in the nearly 20-year-old Misha Pavelick murder gives investigators some encouragement, according to the chief.

“There is hope, obviously, that someone will come forward and maybe that $50,000 will be just that little added incentive they need to be able to help us try and solve those cases,” said Davies.

Police encourage anyone with information in these cases is to contact them or Crime Stoppers.