Debbie Ann Hutchinson

📍 Location

📝 Description

Deborah (Debbie) Ann Hutchinson, 59, disappeared over Easter weekend in 2017 from Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She was last seen on April 15, 2017 on video surveillance making a purchase at a drive‑thru in the Sydney area and visiting local businesses. The next morning (April 16), her white 2005 Kia Magentis was observed driving on Upper Prince Street, Reeves Street and Cossitt Heights Drive; later that day the car was found burning in a wooded area off Cossitt Heights Drive. After her family reported her missing on April 24, investigators identified the vehicle via VIN recovered during salvage and launched extensive ground, K9, human‑remains‑dog and aerial searches. In June 2023, Cape Breton Regional Police announced they are treating the case as a homicide and released images seeking drivers of vehicles seen on Cossitt Heights Drive around 8–9 a.m. on April 16: a black Ford Escape, a blue Ford Ranger and a green pickup truck (a white pickup with blue striping was identified). The province added the case to Nova Scotia’s Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program with a reward of up to $150,000. As of December 7, 2025, Debbie has not been located and the investigation remains active.

🔍 Circumstances

April 15, 2017: Last seen on video at a drive‑thru in Sydney. April 16, 2017 (8–9 a.m.): Her white 2005 Kia Magentis is seen on Upper Prince St., Reeves St. and Cossitt Heights Dr.; it is later found burning in a wooded area off Cossitt Heights Dr. April 24, 2017: Family reports her missing; police later match the burned car to Debbie via VIN recovered during salvage. 2017–2019: Extensive searches (ground, K9, human‑remains dogs, helicopter) and more than 60 interviews; DNA added to Canada’s National Missing Persons database. June 2023: Case reclassified as homicide; public appeal issued to identify drivers of a black Ford Escape, a blue Ford Ranger and a green pickup seen near Debbie’s vehicle; white pickup with blue striping identified. June 16, 2023: Province offers up to $150,000 reward through the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program. No confirmed remains or arrests reported in Debbie’s case as of Dec 7, 2025.

👤 Physical Description

Female, 5 ft (152 cm), approximately 95 lb (43 kg), brown eyes, graying hair; age 59 at time of disappearance.

🔗 Sources (8)

👥 Community Contributions

Help improve this case by adding notes, observations, theories, or tags. Your contributions help the community understand patterns and connections.