It’s been exactly one year since anyone saw Julia Strobach, a 27-year-old Courtenay woman whose disappearance has baffled her family in Germany and left her three-year-old son missing his mom.
She hasn’t been in contact with family, gone online or accessed her bank account in the last year, leaving Comox Valley RCMP concerned for her well-being.
RCMP confirmed the last known sighting of Strobach was in the 1000-block of Braidwood Road in Courtenay early on the evening of Oct. 31, 2013.
She moved to the Island from Germany in 2009.
It’s out of character for Strobach to be out of touch for so long, said Const. Jonathan Grabb, who is investigating the file. Her son has been staying with relatives.
There’s no evidence of foul play and there’s nothing to indicate Strobach was suffering from a mental-health crisis and might have taken her own life, Grabb said.
Investigators have spoken with several people to piece together clues about her disappearance.
However, Mounties believe there are more friends and associates with information about Strobach’s movements in the time leading up to her disappearance who have not yet talked to police.
Some of these potential witnesses now reside in the Central Interior and Okanagan areas, and RCMP in those jurisdictions are working to locate them.
Grabb said any piece of information, however small, might be important to the case.
“Julia’s family, friends and particularly her three-year-old son deserve answers about what has happened to Julia,” said Insp. Tim Walton, who heads the Comox Valley RCMP.
“Despite the best efforts of our investigators over the last year, we have been unable to bring them solid information.
“We are appealing to anyone with information about Julia’s movements and activities in the days and weeks leading up to Oct. 31, 2013, to get in touch with us immediately.”
Comox Valley RCMP is working with the RCMP liaison in the Canadian embassy in Berlin to keep Strobach’s mother updated on the investigation.
Anyone with information on Strobach’s disappearance is urged to call Grabb of the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
