A sergeant with the Manitoba RCMP missing and exploited persons unit says there are slightly fewer than 150 historical, long-term missing persons in their jurisdiction.

RCMP released details on a missing persons case dating back to 1978 yesterday, on National Missing Children's Day.

13-year-old David Bruce Wiebe went missing that year, and hasn't been seen since, though a person has been found guilty of his murder. Dale Goertzen, who was a friend of David's, was arrested in December 1994. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 1995, and was given a life sentence in prison. David's body was never found.

Sergeant Bobby Baker says they continue to work on a lot of old cases, and keep in constant contact with the families.

 

 

Baker says a common misconception is the idea that people have to wait 24 hours before reporting a person missing. He says that isn't true, and if you feel anything is wrong with a loved one you can contact police.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection reminds parents to talk with their kids about being safe.

Christy Dzikowicz is the director of the child safety and family advocacy division at the centre. She says you can't always prevent a child going missing, but there are some simple, "game-changing" strategies. She recommends practicing and reinforcing the buddy system.

 

 

According to the centre, 68 per cent of abductions between 1947 and 2010 occurred when the child was alone.