OPP call off planned search for Christina Calayca

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Missing person search update

SCHREIBER, ON, Nov. 14 - Due to inclement weather, a planned continuation of an Ontario Provincial Police search for a missing Toronto woman that was to have begun on Monday has been cancelled.

Members of the OPP Provincial Emergency Response Team (PERT), trained in high angle rope search & rescue, had been scheduled to travel to the Schreiber area this week to work with local officers in the search for Christina Calayca.

There are no immediate plans to continue the search this fall. This specialized group was to have been assisted and supported by members of the North West Region Emergency Response Team and were planning on carrying out a series of high angle rope searches in various high-risk areas west of Rainbow Falls Provincial Park.

These specially trained PERT officers would be accessing areas that were too dangerous to attempt to search during the course of the original 17-day search that took place in August 2007.

The officers were planning to concentrate their efforts on higher, steeper terrain, in the cliff areas to the north and west of the park. Along with the PERT members and members of the North West Region Emergency Response Team, the OPP helicopter had also been scheduled to assist in the search, to transport personnel and equipment into the designated search areas.

This phase of the search was to have commenced on Monday November 12th and had been expected to take up to five days to complete. Due to the significant change in weather and the high-risk nature of high angle search, conditions were felt to be too dangerous to have the search move forward.

High-risk searches of this type require significant logistical planning in order to review and determine access and egress routes in these areas of challenging terrain and to secure the availability of the specialized resources necessary.

Planning for this phase of the search included aerial videography of the potential search locations and pre-search consultation to determine the scope of the high angle search and resource planning. Christina Calayca had been camping at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park with a cousin and two friends on the August Civic Holiday, having spent one night at the park before going missing.

The OPP first became involved in this missing person investigation after receiving a report of the disappearance of the 20-year-old woman on August 6.

The OPP coordinated an extensive search effort from August 6th - 23rd 2007, utilizing a variety of resources.

This search culminated into one of the longest missing person searches ever conducted by the OPP's North West Region (NWR). At this time the incident remains an open missing person investigation and is not considered a criminal investigation, as no evidence has been found to suggest foul play. Police detectives are continuing to follow up on tips from the public and anyone who may have information relating to this case is asked to contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.

Christina Calayca is described as approximately 5'2" in height, weighs 125-130 pounds, and is of Asian descent with a dark complexion, black shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a blue "hoodie" over a maroon and purple striped shirt with black pants and running shoes.

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