‘Why wasn’t Camiel VanHaecke charged with Harding murder?’, asks family

HOUGHTON — A Houghton County woman has been missing for a year and a half and her family says not enough has been done to find her.

The search continues for 31-year-old Leah Harding, or does it? The South Range woman went missing in April of 2015. Friends and family of Leah gathered outside the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office to bring attention to what they feel is a lack of interest in finding the missing woman.

Leah’s Mother, Camie Harding, said “What investigation? I feel that there has not been an investigation for my daughter. I believe they believe she was a runaway. I believe, from just the way we’ve been treated with law enforcement through the years and whatnot, that they just threw her away-that she’s not important enough to look for.”

A person of interest in Leah’s disappearance was Camiel VanHaecke, who is currently serving a prison sentence for home invasion. He has not been charged in Leah’s case. Harding wants the investigation to continue. Harding said, “We need to get more out there. We need to find Leah. Leah did not runaway. Leah was murdered and I need to find my daughter’s body, someone does, to bring her home. We need closure.”

Something Leah’s daughter would also appreciate. Leah’s seven-year-old daughter, Carly, said, “I’ve been crying a lot for her, and I miss her.”

Detective Sergeant Tom Rosemurgy of the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office said they have followed every lead in this case which has involved numerous agencies. He said they can sympathize with the family’s frustration but unfortunately they do not have any credible information as to Leah’s whereabouts.

The family also encourages hunters to keep an eye out for any sign of Leah. They’ve also set up a Facebook page, “Help Find Leah Harding.”