Police on the small Caribbean island of Grenada are searching for a 36-year-old Maritime woman who disappeared while out jogging with her dog Sunday morning.
According to a social media post, Linnea Veinotte was last seen near her home in the southern tip of Grenada around 8 a.m. Sunday.
Veinotte’s friend Erika Douglas says family and friends are in shock.
“Disbelief. There has to be something wrong here,” she said.
Her husband, Matt Veinotte, says she was out for a run with their dog near their family home. He believes both his wife and the dog were struck by a vehicle.
Assistant Supt. Sylvan McIntyre of the Royal Grenada Police Force says witnesses reported hearing the screech of tires before an impact, and officers found blood at the scene, but none of the subsequent tips have helped locate Veinotte.
He says the car would have damage to the front, possibly from hitting the dog.
The family believes the vehicle was a navy blue or dark grey Suzuki Vitra or Excudo, now with damage to the front, right side. They also believe the driver may have gotten a flat tire during the incident, and would have had to change it somewhere nearby.
McIntyre says all of his units are involved in the search for Veinotte.
Veinotte lives in Grenada's capital city of St. George's with her husband of 14 years and two young boys. They moved back in July after previously living there for six months.
Veinotte's husband is offering a reward of $50,000 to anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of his wife.
Veinotte was born in New Denmark, N.B., but has lived and worked in Nova Scotia, and has a home in Glen Haven, N.S.
She moved to the southern part of Grenada with her young family over the summer and works at St. George's University. She has five degrees from three Canadian universities, including Acadia and Dalhousie.
“She is the most rational, intelligent, strong person and if there's anybody who can think clear and remain calm,” said Douglas.
The larger church community is praying for a positive outcome.
“They're working hard to keep heart and soul and spirit together,” said Rev. Michael Pryse, bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Some of her family is travelling from the Maritimes to Grenada to help in the search.
“We hope that this nightmare comes to a positive end soon,” said Douglas.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell and the Canadian Press.