Disturbing rumours surround the mysterious case of missing Aussie backpacker
There are growing rumours about the fate of a Perth backpacker who vanished from an iconic Canadian ski town more than two weeks ago.
Alison Raspa, 25, was last seen on November 22, when she left the Three Below Restaurant and Lounge in Whistler, north of Vancouver, about 11.30pm.
Ms Raspa’s phone was found in a small lakeside park, some five kilometres away, about 6.30am the following day, however exactly what happened remains the cause of much speculation.
Rescue helicopters, fire department crews and divers have been searching the region, but poor weather and fresh snowfall have hindered search efforts.
Her devastated mother and brother have since flown to the popular ski village to join in what has already been a comprehensive search.
A friend of her mother, who asked not to be named, has now told News Corp that her family heard Ms Raspa was upset about “something that happened at work” before she disappeared.
“Police are looking through the camera footage where Alison works so they can observe her on a day-to-day basis in the days before she disappeared,” the family friend said.
“Alison’s mother has been told that she was upset about something to do with work so police are looking for clues on the (CCTV) tapes.”
An employee of the bar denied that any altercation unfolded outside the bar that night but conceded her disappearance was strange given the size of the the town.
“There are so many rumours and stories floating around about what happened to Alison right now so it’s pretty weird," the employee told News Corp.
“It’s a small place. I mean only about 20,000 people live here at Whistler.”
After moving to Whistler in May, Ms Raspa extended her working visa for another six months.
It’s understood her family was comforted by her solo travels knowing she had a black belt in Kung Fu and was capable of protecting herself.
Whistler RCMP Staff Sergeant Paul Hayes said the search will now focus on the Alpha Lake Park region, with divers and helicopter set to resume their efforts when the weather permits.
Ms Raspa’s nervous friends in Whistler have organised searches of their own, while her friends back home have started Facebook campaigns appealing for information.
She was last seen wearing a black sweater, a white and black striped shirt, and black pants.
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