Police in Cape Breton now investigating six year old missing person case as homicide

The disappearance of a Cape Breton woman six years ago is now being investigated as a homicide.

According to police, 59-year old Debbie Ann Hutchinson was last seen in surveillance video at local businesses on April 15, 2017.

In a facebook post, Cape Breton Regional Police say on April 16, Hutchinson’s 2005 white Kia Magentis was spotted on fire in a wooded area off Cossitt Heights Drive.

On June 13, police released a statement saying they want to speak to people who were driving in the area between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the day the vehicle was found burning.

Police did not go into details about why the case is now being considered a homicide but they say they believe there are people who witnessed Hutchinson’s 2005 white K

ia Magentis traveling on Upper Prince Street, Reeves Street or Cossitt Heights Drive just before it was burned.

Police also want to identify the drivers of four specific vehicles shown by video surveillance traveling on Cossitt Heights Drive at the same time as Hutchinson’s vehicle: a black Ford Escape, a blue Ford Ranger, a green pick-up truck (make and model unconfirmed). Since police issued the original statement, the driver of the white pick-up truck with blue striping has been identified.

With license plate DSB 020, the Magentis also had a Giant Cape Bretion101.9 radio sticker in the bottom left corner of the rear windshield, a Max FM 98.3 radio sticker in the bottom right corner of the rear windshield, and a red and white Kia sticker on the bottom right corner of the trunk.

Anyone with information are asked to call police at 902-563-5151 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

ough Crime Stoppers.