Shaelene Keeler Bell, 23, was last seen on Jan. 30 in Chilliwack, B.C.

By Sheldon Spackman

In Need Of Support

Sylvan Lake woman continues months-long search for missing sister

May 21, 2021 | 12:44 PM

Despite exhaustive efforts over the past few months to find her missing sister, a central Alberta woman is still in need of assistance to locate her missing sibling and solve her puzzling disappearance.

Steph Bell-Pollard, of Sylvan Lake, says Shaelene Keeler Bell, 23, was last seen on Jan. 30 in Chilliwack, B.C., where she resided with her two young sons and boyfriend.

“We’re looking into other avenues,” says Bell-Pollard. “Maybe hiring a private investigator is an option or we’re still taking all the tips we can get. My husband and I are actually thinking about going down there next month to go and conduct a few more searches and help out on a few more of those.”

“We’ve considered moving down there, but it’s so expensive,” she points out.

Bell-Pollard last spoke with her sister on Jan. 28. She says a website (www.shaebell.com) has now been created for her missing sister, which lays out a timeline of Shaelene’s movements following that conversation, and since her disappearance.

SEPT. 25

AUPE members rallying in Innisfail

1h ago

DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM

Third cohort of Red Deer Catholic students prep for Olds College Vet Tech Program

2h ago

SEPT. 24 INCIDENT

South Red Deer hotel fire quickly contained by emergency crews

7h ago

(shaebell.com)

Shaelene left her apartment in the 9300 block of Edward Street in Chilliwack on Jan. 30 around 8:30 p.m for a “drive.”

Her 2021 Hyundai Tucson, only a few days old, was found in the 47000 block of Ballam Road in Chilliwack two days later on Feb. 1 – about seven kilometres from her apartment and with her phone and other personal possessions still in the SUV.

According to the website, Shaelene visited her mother in the early part of Jan. 30, and was last seen by her boyfriend and children later that evening, up until she left.

One theory of note on the website, is that Shaelene’s vehicle was located about 200 metres from a house of the 12 Tribes Church, described on the site as a Christian fundamentalist organization which requires you to give up everything and restart a completely new life in their community with the promises of a better one.

Bell-Pollard, however, isn’t sold on the theory that her sister has joined the 12 Tribes.

“I don’t believe they are known to kidnap people, but they are, I believe, known to brainwash them, and I guess from what I’ve read, you have to give up everything to join them,” she explains. “And the connection is where her car was found, there’s supposedly two different 12 Tribes homes in the area and her car was found almost right beside one of them. I couldn’t see her giving up everything, especially when she had just bought a new car.”

Bell-Pollard admits her sister’s disappearance is heartbreaking and frustrating.

“There was actually another missing woman, Trina Hunt, and she has been found, but unfortunately deceased,” she laments. “Hunt’s family has asked people that want to donate in her name, to actually donate to my sister’s GoFundMe, because Trina loved kids. It’s amazing that their family is thinking of our family during one of the worst times of their life.”

One of the hardest parts about Shaelene’s disappearance, according to Bell-Pollard, is explaining the situation to her sons, and her own kids.

“They ask a lot about their aunt and we don’t know what to tell them,” she remarks. “I have good days, I have bad days. It kind of comes and goes.”

The hardest time for Shaelene’s boys, who are now staying with their father, is bedtime, adds Bell-Pollard.

“That’s when their little minds start going and they ask about their mom. Her oldest will be four next month, so when we go down, we’re kind of hoping that we’ll be able to take him some birthday presents and stuff so that we can kind of spoil him.”

If you have any information about Shaelene Bell, call your local police, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

RELATED: Sylvan Lake woman gathering support in search for missing sister