🕯️ COLD CASE – MISSING GIRL FROM TORONTO, ONTARIO – NICOLE LOUISE MORIN, 8 – LAST SEEN JULY 30, 1985
On the morning of Tuesday, July 30, 1985, eight-year-old Nicole Louise Morin vanished from her family’s apartment building at 627 The West Mall in Etobicoke, Toronto. She had left her penthouse condo to meet a friend for a swim — a short walk to the lobby — and was never seen again.
Nicole lived with her mother, Jeannette Morin, on the top floor of the twenty-storey building. It was a warm summer day, and Nicole had plans to meet her friend Jennifer for a swim in the complex pool. At approximately 10:30 a.m., Nicole picked up the mail from the lobby and returned home to get ready. Around 11:00 a.m., after speaking with her friend on the intercom, she said goodbye to her mother and left the apartment. She never arrived downstairs.
Her friend waited fifteen minutes before buzzing again, only to learn Nicole had not made it to the lobby. At first, Jeannette assumed the two girls had missed each other and that Nicole had gone directly to the pool or was playing outside. Hours later, when Nicole still had not returned, her mother called police. That call triggered what became one of the largest missing child investigations in Toronto Police history.
👧 DESCRIPTION OF NICOLE
- Gender: Female
- Age at Disappearance: 8 years old
- Date of Birth: April 1, 1977
- Height: 4’3”
- Weight: 55 lbs
- Hair: Brown, shoulder-length, straight
- Eyes: Brown
- Complexion: Fair
- Distinctive Features: Birthmark on right side of forehead, pierced ears that slightly protruded, and a small gap between her front teeth.
- Clothing at Time: Peach one-piece bathing suit with coloured stripes on the front, a green headband, red canvas shoes, carrying a peach blanket and purple beach towel.
📜 TIMELINE & INVESTIGATION
Police launched a massive ground and aerial search involving hundreds of officers, volunteers, and community members. Roadblocks were established, and sound trucks broadcast Nicole’s description throughout Etobicoke. Despite extensive efforts, there was no trace of Nicole.
The case drew enormous public and media attention. Crime Stoppers — newly formed at the time — offered its first-ever $1,000 reward for information, printing posters and producing a video reenactment of the morning Nicole vanished. Police later offered an unprecedented $100,000 reward, which remains active today.
Investigators examined every possibility: family connections, convicted offenders, cult activity, and even international leads. In 2004, European researchers claimed a possible photographic match between Nicole and a child in a Dutch pedophile network; however, no conclusive evidence was found.
In 2019, cadaver dogs searching an Etobicoke park detected the scent of human remains, but further investigation found no confirmed link to Nicole. The case remains unsolved, though new leads continue to come in each year.
🕯️ LEGACY AND IMPACT
Nicole’s disappearance deeply affected Toronto and the nation. It led to new awareness of child safety and missing-person protocols. Her friend Det. Const. Melissa Elaschuk, who grew up with Nicole, now serves in law enforcement and continues to advocate for renewed attention to the case. “The innocence was kind of ripped away from the community,” she said. “We still hope someone will give that last bit of evidence.”
Nicole’s mother, Jeannette, passed away without ever knowing what happened to her daughter, though she never gave up hope. Her father, Art, still lives in the Greater Toronto Area and continues to believe Nicole may be out there. In recent years, Toronto Police have renewed efforts through the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit, releasing age-progressed images showing what Nicole may look like today — now in her late 40s.
🔍 CURRENT STATUS
The investigation remains open. In 2023, Toronto Police reaffirmed a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nicole’s whereabouts or the person responsible. The Missing Persons Unit maintains active case files and reviews every new tip. Officers emphasize that one call could finally bring closure to Nicole’s family and friends.
“This case is not closed,” said Detective Sergeant Steve Smith. “It has never been forgotten. And it only takes one piece of new information to make a difference.”
📞 HOW TO HELP
Anyone with information is urged to contact Toronto Police 22 Division at 416-808-2205, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.
For ongoing information and historical updates, visit the dedicated Nicole Morin case page.
🔗 SOURCES
MissingPeople.ca – $50,000 Reward Announced
MissingPeople.ca – Cadaver Dogs Detect Human Scent
Toronto.com – Ontario Cold Case Feature
👉 WHAT YOU CAN DO
Share Nicole’s story to keep her memory alive and bring renewed attention to her case. Awareness is the key to solving long-term disappearances and ensuring no missing child is forgotten.
Visit CanadaMissing.ca for more unresolved and ongoing missing-person cases across Canada.
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