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HOUGHTON – Nearly four months after the last sighting of Leah Harding, the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate and seek leads in her disappearance.
Harding, 32, of South Range, was last seen by family on April 30, and has had no contact with friends or family since. She was reported missing on May 15.
She lived in South Range, and previously L’Anse, with her boyfriend, Camiel VanHaecke. He has been named as a person of interest in the case, but not charged.
He recently pleaded no contest to an unrelated count of second-degree home invasion stemming from a break-in at a camp in Duncan Township.
Numerous agencies were involved in early searches for Harding, which focused on Houghton and Baraga counties; prior to moving to L’Anse, Harding had been a lifelong resident of Nisula. However, authorities found no sign of her.
Though leads have been slowing down, the Sheriff’s Office is still receiving a number of them, Det. Sgt. Tom Rosemurgy said.
“We do follow up on everything, so anyone that feels they have some information, we urge them to call us,” he said. “Sometimes those little leads that people don’t think are going to amount to anything could be that little shred of information we need to break it open. it’s important to report it and let us look at it. We can eliminate it as a lead, or it could potentially have some value to us.”
The Sheriff’s Office is also warning people against unauthorized donation cans set up in Harding’s name. The only approved donation site is at the Baraga County Federal Credit Union, where funds may be given for Harding’s daughter, Karly. To find out how to donate, call the credit union at 524-5515, or visit it at 101 E. Broad Street in L’Anse.
A person had placed donation cans for the search at locations in Baraga, Houghton and Ontonagon counties. Harding’s family has not received any money from the cans. The Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the situation, Rosemurgy said.
Any businesses or locations with the cans should take them down and contact the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office at 482-0055 for pickup. Anyone with information on Harding’s whereabouts is also asked to contact the department.