News release
Sprague RCMP continue the search for missing woman
October 17, 2025
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Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba
From: Manitoba RCMP
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At 10:30am on October 19, 2023, Sprague RCMP received a request to check on the wellbeing of a 70-year-old female. Officers attended, searched her property and residence in the RM of Piney, but were unable to locate her.
Ywanna (Jean) Backman was last seen on October 13, 2023, and was last in contact with a friend on October 15, 2023.
In the days following her disappearance, multiple specialized RCMP units, including Search and Rescue (SAR), Police Dog Services (PDS), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), along with the Office of the Fire Commissioner, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), volunteers from Winnipeg Search and Rescue as well as residents from the surrounding area, conducted an extensive ground search but were unable to locate her.
Over the last two years, the Manitoba Integrated Missing Persons Coordination Centre (MIMPCC) has thoroughly investigated every tip received and conducted numerous interviews.
“We aren’t giving up. We know there’s someone out there with crucial information that can help move this investigation forward”, says Sergeant Lamy from the MIMPCC. “We want to bring Jean home. We want to find the answers for her family and for the community. And we aren’t going to stop until we do.”
The RCMP has obtained a photo of Jean from October 11, 2023, wearing a green jacket. Investigators believe she may have been wearing the jacket when she disappeared.
The RCMP is asking anyone who may know the whereabouts of Backman or have any information concerning her disappearance, to contact the Sprague RCMP at 204-437-2041, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
Sprague RCMP, along with the MIMPCC, continue to investigate.
