Closure for the Family of Agnes May Appleyard: Skull Discovered 36 Years Ago Positively Identified

After nearly four decades, the family of Agnes May Appleyard can finally find closure. Ontario Provincial Police announced this week that a skull found 36 years ago has been positively identified as hers. Appleyard, who was 71 at the time, disappeared without a trace from her property on Highway 520 in Emsdale on April 29, 1986. Her granddaughter, Teresa Schamehorn, was just nine years old then. She spoke fondly of her grandmother, saying, “I was really close to her. I just loved her to death.”

A year after Appleyard vanished, a skull was discovered on the property. Unfortunately, the limited technology available at the time prevented the police from confirming if it belonged to her. In 1988, Appleyard’s 82-year-old husband, Sidney, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with her disappearance. Evidence from court records and medical professionals indicated a history of abuse towards Appleyard. However, his lawyer argued that she had left him to live in British Columbia. Sidney was acquitted in 1990 due to a lack of a body and passed away years later.

For almost four decades, the case remained open, leaving the family with no answers. Seeking closure, Schamehorn reached out to private investigator Ellen White in 2021. White discovered that Appleyard was not living in British Columbia as previously claimed. The case was never fully closed by the OPP and gained attention through a book chapter and White’s podcast.

The investigation was re-examined in November 2019, when familial DNA samples were requested by the police. Finally, in April of this year, advancements in DNA analysis confirmed that the skull belonged to Appleyard. Schamehorn expressed disappointment at the lengthy process but is relieved that her grandmother can finally be laid to rest.

Schamehorn believes that the police lack the necessary resources to properly investigate such cases. She commended their work but emphasized that private investigators like White can dedicate more time to individual cases. White’s team handles around 20 missing person cases, with 14 of them occurring in northern Ontario.

Schamehorn plans to meet with detectives next month to explore any possible avenues to advance the case. The family is also considering erecting a headstone and giving Appleyard a proper burial, creating a place where they can visit and find solace.