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Krystle Ann Julia Knott, 20, was last seen at West Edmonton Mall on February 18th, 2005.

Knott's file was placed under the Project KARE mandate in July 2007 and her case was made public on February 17th, 2008.

Case status is open and active.

Knott, one of two women missing from northeastern British Columbia since February 2005, was the latest addition to the list of missing persons falling under the Project KARE mandate.

At a press conference convened February 17th, 2008 – the third anniversary of the women's disappearance – RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Wayne A. Oakes announced that Krystle Ann Julia Knott of Dawson Creek and Rene Lynn Gunning of Fort St. John were last seen at West Edmonton Mall. Knott was 16 at the time, Gunning was 20.

Oakes said the women are now believed missing under "suspicious circumstances," specifically citing the length of time since their disappearance and their method of travel – hitchhiking.

"The fact that they relied on hitchhiking to enable their interprovincial travels placed them at a greater risk of becoming victims of a violent crime," Oakes said.

Those circumstances, in addition to last being seen at the mall, led investigators to place the cases under the Project KARE mandate in July 2007. RCMP chose the February 2008 weekend to make news of their disappearances public.

At the press conference, Cpl. Oakes was questioned about the delay. Oakes responded that the timing was to use the anniversary to spark public memory, and to ensure investigators were certain of as many facts as possible before issuing a media release.

"It took that amount of time to gather the information," Oakes said. "You can't release what you don't have."

Investigators said they were satisfied that neither Knott nor Gunning had any involvement in the sex trade. There was also no comment on whether video surveillance at the mall was part of the investigation.

On February 17th, 2005 Gunning hitchhiked from Fort St. John, travelled through Grande Prairie, Alberta and eventually arrived at West Edmonton Mall. She was last seen the next day in the presence of Krystle Knott. Knott had arrived in Edmonton around the beginning of February 2005 from Dawson Creek.

Investigators determined that the two women did not know each other prior to their arrival in Edmonton but likely became acquainted while at the mall through as yet unknown circumstances.

At some point on February 18th the pair told their respective friends that they were hitchhiking back to either Dawson Creek or Fort St. John.

Oakes said that since that date there have been no confirmed sightings or contact with either woman. It was not known if the pair actually departed the mall area on February 18th or if they may have spent some time hanging out with, as yet unidentified, new friends.

Knott, born in February 1989, was described as First Nations, 5-feet 1-inch (155 cm) and 121 lbs (55kg), with black hair that may have been dyed dark blonde or may have blonde streaks and brown eyes. She had a tattoo of a cherry heart on her ankle and piercings on her lower lip and ears.

Knott was last known to be wearing black pants, black tank top and a fishnet shirt, black boots and a white jacket.

Knott also used the aliases of Krystle Vankoughnett; Krystle Goulet and Krystle Letendre.

A larger image of Knott can be seen here. A missing persons poster of Knott can be seen here (opens as a .pdf file).

Both Knott and Gunning were now both listed on the recently launched www.albertamissingpersons.ca website, a public database of missing persons and unidentified human remains.

According to Oakes, Project KARE was currently investigating just over thirty missing persons under its mandate which is exclusive to the province of Alberta.

RCMP were hopeful anyone with details regarding the activities of Knott and Gunning around February 2005, such as means of travel, hangouts or activities or known acquaintances, would contact Project KARE at 495-KARE (5273) or 1-877-412-KARE (5273) or online at www.tipsubmit.com - a secure tip submission web site.

RCMP also hoped that if Knott and Gunning learned of the interest in their well being to call one of the numbers provided to inform investigators as to their current circumstances.

The day after the press conference, media sought details of the girls' story the RCMP could not provide.

When Rene Gunning was first reported missing in February 2005, so was her friend – Naomi Ratcliffe. Together the two girls hitchhiked their way to West Edmonton Mall where they met up with Krystle Knott and a fourth girl.

"Krystle and Rene went off into the mall and me and Sarah went to her boyfriend's place. We invited them with us but they said, 'No, we want to stay here and chase after these guys.' "

Naomi told Global Edmonton she wasn't optimistic that Rene or Krystle would be found.

"She would have called home, you'd think. And Krystle didn't seem like that much of a person that would just up and not talk to anybody for three years, right?"

The RCMP couldn't confirm whether they talked to Ratcliffe or not, saying they can't discuss their dealings with witnesses.

CBC Edmonton spoke to Hubert Vankoughnett, Krystle Knott's father. He thinks his daughter hitchhiked to Edmonton on a whim.

"She was pretty smart. She knew what she was doing. I think something serious has happened to her."

When asked why the father replied, "Well, because she's a good-looking young little girl."

Two months after Gunning and Knot were last seen at West Edmonton Mall, 13-year-old Nina Louise Courtepatte was led away from the shopping centre by newly found friends.

Courtepatte was later found on a golf course west of the city. She had been raped, beaten and left for dead. There was also an attempt to set her body on fire.

deadmonton 2005 - krystle ann julia knott