Family of missing Maple Ridge woman pleads for help

The family of a Maple Ridge woman has made a plea to the public to help find her after she went missing last month.

Rebecca Harbowy, 36, was last seen leaving Maple Ridge Hospital on Nov. 23 just after midnight.

Harbowy’s younger sister, Rachel Bertoia, told CityNews that the search has been extensive and they’re worried about her well-being, especially with the weather getting colder.

“It’s pretty horrific, you’re just holding your breath all the time each day waking up to no news, no sightings, we just sit here and are imagining the worst.”

Bertoia explains that Harbowy had been taken to the hospital on Nov. 22 and then, at about 1:20 a.m., she left the hospital and has not been seen since. 

Bertoia adds that her sister had been escorted to the edge of the hospital property with “no phone, no coat, no ID, and no wallet.” She says that the hospital told Bertoia that “legally they were unable to hold her.”

The Ridge Meadows RCMP say Harbowy has brown/red hair, is 5’6″ tall and weighs 170 pounds. She was last seen wearing a Nike hoodie with black logo lettering on her chest, black Puma sweatpants with lettering on the bottom of the left pant leg, and black and white Nike running shoes. She has multiple tattoos on her hands, neck, torso and back.

“If you have heard anything at all we just ask you call police … we just want her home,” said Bertoia.

Ridge Meadows RCMP say the investigation into Harbowy’s disappearance is being handled by the missing person’s unit.

“Police are not ruling anything out and any and all avenues are being considered in attempting to locate [her]”, they tell CityNews.

Bertoia says they have had no leads since she went missing.

Police add this investigation is still active and ongoing at this time. 

The police are asking anyone with more information on Harbowy’s whereabouts or if they have seen her to contact Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251 and refer to file number 2023-23402.