Canada, Ontario

Pamela Jayne Holopainen

Pamela “Pam” Holopainen was last seen during the early morning hours of December 14, 2003, after attending a house party on Cedar Street South in the Schumacher area of Timmins, Ontario.

On the evening of December 13, 2003, Pam had planned to attend the party with her common-law partner, Chris Manchester. Before leaving, she asked her sister, Vanessa Brousseau, to babysit her two young sons. When Vanessa was unavailable, Manchester’s sister agreed to care for the children.

At approximately 2:00 a.m., several witnesses observed Pam and Manchester engaged in a heated argument. According to those present, Manchester had accused Pam of flirting with a married man. Upset by the confrontation, Pam left the party on foot, with Manchester following closely behind. One witness later recalled that she would never forget the expression on Pam’s face, describing her as looking frightened, as though she sensed something bad was about to happen.

Pam was last seen walking away from the party, reportedly intending to return to her home at 77 Fourth Avenue in the Schumacher neighborhood. She was wearing a purple Columbia winter jacket, a silver necklace with a silver eagle pendant, and wearing as many as four rings.

In the days following her disappearance, Pam’s family was unaware that she was missing. Because Pam, her children, and Manchester could not be reached, relatives believed the family had travelled to Sudbury Ontario to visit Manchester’s relatives. Family members repeatedly went to Pam’s residence, where they found no vehicle, no signs of activity, and no indication that anyone had recently been home. Numerous phone messages were left, but none were ever returned.

As Christmas passed without any contact, Pam’s family became increasingly concerned. They contacted her landlord, who confirmed that he had not seen Pam or anyone else at the residence. It was not until December 31, 2003, when Manchester’s sister informed Pam’s mother, Holly, and her sister that Pam had allegedly left Manchester and that he had the children, that the family realized something was seriously wrong.

Pamela Holopainen has never been seen again. Her disappearance remains unsolved, and investigators continue to seek information that could help determine what happened to her.

If you have any information about Pamela Holopainen’s disappearance, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact the Timmins Police Service, Crime Stoppers, or Please Bring Me Home’s anonymous tip line at 226-702-2728.

Summary

Date of Disappearance: December 14, 2003
Location of Disappearance: Schumacher Ontario
Age at Disappearance: 22
Date of Birth: August 1,1981
Height: 5’3″
Weight: 126 LBS
Hair Color: Brown hair
Eye Color: Blue
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Inuit
Glasses: None to note
Investigating Agency:
Dental Information: Dental records are available to police. These records include documentation confirming that Pam previously wore braces, which had been removed prior to her disappearance.
Medical Information: None to note
Notable Identifiers: Braces, had two tattoos on her left hand, one of a web pattern between her thumb and index finger; and another of the initials “DI”
Missing Personal Items:
Clothing/Jewelry: Had a purple Columbia winter jacket / Silver necklace with a silver eagle pendant / Wore as many as four rings
Tattoos: Two tattoos on her left hand / One of a web pattern between her thumb and index finger / Another of the initials “DI”

Additional Information

Pamela’s sister, Vanessa Brousseau, has been a dedicated advocate for missing and murdered individuals for many years. In her unwavering search for answers about Pamela’s disappearance, Vanessa has travelled across Canada to raise awareness, support other families, and advocate for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). Her tireless efforts have helped keep Pamela’s story in the public eye while standing alongside countless other families seeking answers for their missing loved ones.

As part of her continued advocacy, Vanessa launched the Rolling Resilience Journey, a cross-Canada awareness campaign dedicated to honoring missing and murdered individuals, supporting affected families, and promoting healing, education, and advocacy.

Those wishing to support Vanessa’s mission can do so through her GoFundMe campaign, “Help Me Travel Across Canada to Raise Awareness on MMIWG2S.” Donations help make it possible for Vanessa and her husband Derek to continue travelling across Canada, raising awareness, supporting families, and giving a voice to those still searching for answers.

GoFundMe Campaign:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-travel-across-canada-to-raise-awareness-on-mmiwg2s

Pamela Jayne Holopainen

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