Family of Missing Calgary Senior Desperate for Clues as RCMP Search Goes Cold
The family of an 82-year-old Calgary woman missing for over a week is making a heartfelt public plea for assistance after Alberta RCMP announced that the search has gone cold. Diane Cooper was reported missing by her family on April 7, with her last confirmed sighting occurring in Hoosier, Saskatchewan, on April 6. She was driving a grey Toyota SUV with Alberta license plate LVA978 at the time.
Disappearance and Vanishing Digital Trail
Cooper's granddaughter, Cassidy Smith, revealed that the family initially tracked her movements using her phone and an AirTag device in her vehicle. This technology showed her leaving Calgary, but the trail abruptly ended around 9:40 p.m. on April 6 when her phone died and the AirTag went dark. "It's very concerning, and we're all quite worried," Smith stated, expressing the family's growing anxiety.
While Cooper experiences symptoms consistent with early-stage dementia, her family had not previously been overly concerned about her ability to navigate independently. "We tracked her phone to make sure we can keep an eye on her," Smith explained. "There's been times where she's got turned around and she just can't get back to her neighbourhood . . . but beyond that, she's normally quite capable of finding her way around."
Mysterious Journey into Unfamiliar Territory
Earlier on April 6, RCMP released a photo showing Cooper stopping for fuel at a gas station in Stettler, Alberta, wearing a long blue jacket. By 9:40 p.m., she was reported in the Veteran area along Highway 12 in east-central Alberta. Her last known location was travelling through Hoosier, Saskatchewan, at approximately 10:51 p.m.
The family is baffled by her presence in these areas. "We have absolutely no relatives or family in Saskatchewan, and she has no ties to northern Alberta either," Smith emphasized. "It's very concerning, and we're all quite worried. If her car dies, there's so many backroads up there and places that she could be stuck. She's been gone for a really long time now, so we're just really hoping if we get the word out there that someone will have seen her or have a better idea of where we can keep searching."
Beloved Pet May Be With Her
Cooper lives alone in Calgary with her cat and frequently visits local dog parks with her son's Dalmatian, Halo, who is believed to be accompanying her. "My guess is she was trying to take Halo for a walk, and then got lost driving somewhere else," Smith speculated. "We definitely think it's just that she got lost and can't find her way back."
RCMP Efforts and Expanding Search Area
Alberta RCMP have pursued numerous tips and reported sightings across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, but all leads have proven fruitless. "All the leads have been followed up on, but nothing has been substantiated to date," said Corp. Teri-Ann Bakker with Alberta RCMP. Foul play is not suspected in her disappearance.
When asked if Cooper might have travelled beyond Saskatchewan, Bakker indicated that investigators are keeping all possibilities open. "Anything's possible at this point," she remarked. "That's an unknown of where she would be at this point in time. It's been a few days."
Authorities have deployed extensive resources, including roadway patrols by multiple RCMP detachments and aerial searches in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. RCMP Air Services conducted a flyover on April 13 without success. The search area encompasses a vast region primarily composed of rural roads and prairie landscape.
Description and Contact Information
Diane Cooper is described as having blue eyes, white hair, and a slim build, standing 5'1" tall. Anyone with information about Cooper's whereabouts, her vehicle, or Halo is urged to contact Consort RCMP at 403-577-3001 or 310-RCMP (7267). Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1‐800‐222‐8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or via the P3 Tips mobile app.
