One month ago, Amber Manthorne of Port Alberni failed to show up to work, and her family has not heard from her since then. Now, ManthorneB次元官网网址檚 mysterious disappearance is part of the Island Crime podcast series.
Podcast host Laura Palmer on Monday, Aug. 8 released three episodes relating to ManthorneB次元官网网址檚 disappearance: Empty Cottage, AmberB次元官网网址檚 Heart of Gold and On Edge. The first episode lays out the timeline of ManthorneB次元官网网址檚 disappearance, the concurrent disappearance and reappearance of her ex-boyfriend Justin Hall, and the massive public search effort that B次元官网网址淎mberB次元官网网址檚 ArmyB次元官网网址� has undertaken.
This is a departure for Palmer: her previous three seasons have featured people that have been missing for years, including a number of men from around Vancouver Island, Michael Dunahee, who disappeared from a Victoria park in 1991, and Lisa Marie Young, a 21-year-old Indigenous woman who went missing from Nanaimo on June 30, 2002.
Palmer initially declined a request to create a podcast episode about ManthorneB次元官网网址檚 disappearance, explaining that she doesnB次元官网网址檛 work on breaking news anymore. A former CBC producer, Palmer was out of the country when Manthorne first went missing.
B次元官网网址淭hen I came home and these posters were popping up everywhere. I was at the lake with my daughter and she pointed to one of them and said what is this about,B次元官网网址� Palmer said.
As she began reading more news coverage and posts on the Finding Amber Manthorne Facebook page, she reconsidered her initial decision. B次元官网网址淚 felt maybe there is a way I could be of help,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 began with the idea I would just pull something together quickly and get it out there.B次元官网网址�
The more she talked to people B次元官网网址渢he more it seemed like she was a well-loved person and contributed a lot to the community,B次元官网网址� Palmer added.
She typically spends six months or more researching a season prior to releasing the first episode. In this case she gathered information and released the initial episodes in about 10 days, family spokesperson Kristie St. Claire said.
St. Claire, who grew up with Manthorne, speaks in the first podcast episode, filling in a picture of who Amber is and what she means to her friends, family and broader community.
St. Claire had originally forwarded the Finding Amber Manthorne page to every media outlet she could think of, as well as to Palmer. She stayed in touch with Palmer, whose work she was familiar with through the Lisa Marie Young season. When Palmer agreed to move forward with some research, St. Claire received permission from ManthorneB次元官网网址檚 mother to go ahead.
B次元官网网址淭he point with this is thereB次元官网网址檚 so many people who have so many questions for us, we canB次元官网网址檛 possibly answer them,B次元官网网址� said St. Claire. She felt the podcast would be the best way to share factual informationB次元官网网址攏ot rumoursB次元官网网址攖o a broad audience.
B次元官网网址淩ight now, itB次元官网网址檚 a huge puzzle with pieces scattered all over the place,B次元官网网址� she says of the case. She is hoping the podcast will generate discussion and stimulate peopleB次元官网网址檚 memories in the days surrounding ManthorneB次元官网网址檚 disappearance. B次元官网网址淲e do not have Amber back, but weB次元官网网址檙e doing anything and everything we can.B次元官网网址�
Palmer has released three episodes but is unsure at this time how many episodes Season 4 will entail. B次元官网网址淚 will add to it if I can advance the story,B次元官网网址� she said. She has been receiving calls from her public post on the Finding Amber Manthorne page as well as St. ClaireB次元官网网址檚 private appeal, and expects she will have material for additional episodes.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 likely more is going to happen,B次元官网网址� she said, however, B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to commit to it.B次元官网网址�
She said she hopes her podcast will prompt movement in the case; perhaps leading to charges.
B次元官网网址淥r finding Amber.B次元官网网址�
Do you have a tip about the search for Amber Manthorne? Call the tip line at 250-730-1544, email findingambermanthorne@outlook.com or call the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424. To reach Palmer, email laura@laurapalmer.ca or go online to islandcrime.ca.
