Investigators are remaining tight-lipped about a cellphone turned over to police in connection with the disappearance of Catie Miller.
The cellphone has been the biggest break in the case so far, but police aren’t saying whether the phone has provided them with any valuable information about Miller’s disappearance.
“I have not heard anything more about the cellphone,” says her father, Dr. John Miller. “Of course I’ve thought about it a little bit.”
The cellphone was found at the Dartmouth Sportsplex and turned over to police on Sunday. Officers told Miller’s family about the phone on Tuesday, although they won’t say whether the phone belongs to her, only that it is related to her case.
Dr.Miller says his daughter does have a cellphone, although it hasn’t been used since July 15, the day she disappeared.
“Terry had bought the cellphone for her and she had all of the information, the contracts for the phone, and she’s provided that to police, so the police should now know whether the phone they have is Catie’s or not,” he says.
Police will only say the phone is still under investigation.
“How it was turned over to the Sportsplex, who discovered it, even the cellphone itself, all of that is currently under investigation,” says Halifax Regional Police Const. Pierre Bourdages.
CTV News attempted to speak with the Dartmouth Sportsplex employee who found the cellphone. She agreed to speak to media, until her employer told her not to.
CTV News then spoke to the general manager of the facility. He said he is the only person that can speak for the Sportsplex, but police asked him not to speak to media.
Catie Miller, 29, lives in an apartment close to the Sportsplex. She was last in contact with her family on July 15, when she sent her mother a text message.
Police say she hasn’t used her phone, social media or bank accounts since then.
Dwight Fischer, assistant vice-president of information technology at Dalhousie University, says finding a cellphone can make or break a case.
“Because of the way people use them today, their email, where they take their photos, where they travel with maps, all the apps that they use for social media, all that leaves a digital trail,” says Fischer.
Miller says the discovery of the cellphone, and the turnout of 300 people at a vigil for his daughter in Halifax Tuesday evening, has brought hope to his family.
“I know that there are very possibly difficult days ahead until we find Catie, but I was at that point feeling much better.”
Miller is described as a white female with brown shoulder-length hair and grey eyes. She is about five-foot-eight and weighs 130 pounds.
Police said her ears are pierced and she has no known tattoos. She often wears her hair in a ponytail.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact police.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell
