Jean Virginia (Ginny) Sampare is a Canadian woman who went missing on Thursday, October 14, 1971, outside Gitsegukla, British Columbia, Canada. She was last seen by her cousin near the railroad overpass on Highway 16 outside of Gitsegukla. Sampare's cousin, who was walking with her, went to get a jacket or a bike from his home and when he came back Sampare was gone. Despite the police and local community searching nearby areas for her for the 8 days following her disappearance, their efforts proved unsuccessful. She has not been seen since.
Despite multiple theories surrounding what could have led to her disappearance, there has been no conclusive evidence to back any of them up.
Background
Sampare was born on September 10, 1953, into a First Nations family of Gitxsan descent. Her birth location and parents' names are not public knowledge. She is the second youngest of six children. Her siblings are Anne, Winnie, Sandra, Virginia and Rod, with Sandra being the youngest. Sampare attended high school in Hazelton, British Columbia. When she was older, she worked in a cannery and as a caretaker for her siblings. She lived with her parents in Gitsegukla. Rod described their parents as very strict and watchful; the children were not allowed to play after 9 and their parents made them work hard. Sampare was planning to move to Terrace with Rod later in the month that she went missing. She worked at the Royal Packing Company salmon canning plant in Claxton and was described as a healthy, normal 18-year-old woman.
Personality
Growing up, Sampare was described as a shy, quiet child who sang teasing songs to her siblings. She loved to play "nurse" with her siblings and would take turns with Winnie being the nurse. Sampare would often let someone know of her plans, and it was out of character for her to leave unannounced. She volunteered as a caretaker for her siblings, protecting them when their father drank too much. Rod described her as quiet and "strong, very strong," and said that she had a promising future as a "fair-headed" girl. Rod explained in an inquiry that Sampare was careful and did not partake in any high-risk activities.
Relationship status
Sampare's boyfriend, who also had worked at the canning plant, had gone missing shortly before she disappeared. His remains were found after Sampare disappeared. He had drowned in the Skeena River.
Identifying characteristics
Sampare has dark hair and eyes.
Personal items at time of disappearance
There is no public record regarding the items which Sampare had taken with her when she went missing. Though it was a cold night, she had left her jacket at home.
Disappearance
The night of the disappearance, October 14, 1971, Rod's wife, Violet, testified that she saw Sampare at Sampare's mother's house. Violet said that Sampare's mother came home and went into the kitchen; soon after Sampare came out of the kitchen and looked like she was crying. Sampare was avoiding eye contact with Violet. Asking what was wrong, Violet said that Sampare went straight to the door, opened the door and walked out. Violet tried to call Sampare and ask where she was going. Violet tried to get Sampare, but her mother-in-law stopped her, saying that "She'll come back". Violet said that this was between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
Alvin "Hyrams" (Hyzims?), Sampare's cousin, was reported to be the last person to have seen her. He was walking with Sampare alongside Highway 16 when he left to either get a jacket or a bike and then rejoin her. Alvin believed at the time that Sampare was going to a store that was close to the railroad overpass outside of town. Alvin's house was close to where he parted from Sampare, just south of the highway. Violet reported that Alvin came back to the highway and heard a vehicle door close, but Sampare was nowhere to be seen.
After Sampare did not return home that night, her mother reported her missing the next morning to the Gitsegukla Indian Band office in Gitsegukla. Someone at the band office mistakenly said that they had to wait a certain amount of time before reporting the disappearance to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Even after waiting and rather than reporting it, the band office sent someone to South Hazelton and Kitimat to see if she was with her sisters Winnie or Anna, but she was not. After talking with Sampare's friends, some of them in Kispiox, they went to the RCMP.