Woman’s family searching for answers five years after her disappearance
Kandice Singbeil’s mother says it is hard to believe nearly five years have gone by since her daughter disappeared in Saskatoon. It seems as if it happened yesterday, she says.
Kandice, whose 38th birthday is this year, was last seen riding her distinctive dark Supercycle Cruiser Classic bicycle in downtown Saskatoon on May 26, 2015.
“It just depends on the day. Emotions just plummet, up and down swings all the time,” Singbeil’s mother, Pauline, said in a phone interview.
Kandice’s two children — fiveyear-old Kaestin and 13-year-old Nethan — are being raised by her parents in her hometown. Kaestin was only a couple months old and living with Pauline and her husband when Kandice disappeared, while Kandice was trying to turn her life around in Saskatoon.
Kaestin has had more questions about her mother and so have the children at day care. They’ve been asking where her mother is and why she lives with her grandparents.
“Those questions are hard, because I don’t have an answer. I try as best as I can, saying ‘Mom’s an angel in heaven,’ but that’s the best I can do, and it hurts,” Pauline said.
Although Nethan is older, it’s hard for him, too, Pauline said. She often talks to them about their mother.
Pauline and her husband had planned to come to the city in March to meet with police and her victim services worker, but COVID-19 pandemic restrictions put those plans on hold. She said the police force’s “phone door” is always open, but sometimes there are questions they can’t answer because of the ongoing investigation.
“They said they follow every lead that they can when it comes in. Many, many, many have been dead ends, of course, but they’ve been very, very good with our case,” she said.
A Saskatoon police spokeswoman said the case continues to be investigated by the major crime section and is considered an active file. As such, police can’t say how many tips have been received or witnesses interviewed.
“From the beginning, our goal has been to locate Kandice and to provide closure to her family. We continue to ask the public for any information they may have that could lead us to finding her,” the spokeswoman wrote in an email.
Last year, Saskatoon police produced a series of videos about Kandice Singbeil, called Where is She? Police are planning to issue social media messages on the anniversary date to remind the public of information already released.
Pauline said what they really want is to find answers and be able to bring Kandice home.
“After that, I don’t think I have the strength to deal with everything else that goes with it,” she said. “Just to be able to bring her home and have answers for our grandchildren would be more than I could ask for.”