Search for missing woman continues

HOUGHTON — The effort to find 32-year-old Leah Harding continues. Harding was last seen by family on April 30, 2015 and was reported missing on May 15, 2015. She has had no contact with family or friends since that time.

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Office says they are still actively investigating her disappearance. She was living with her boyfriend, Camiel VanHaecke in South Range. Prior to that, she and VanHaecke were living in L’Anse. Harding had been a life-long Nisula resident in Baraga County.

The search for her began in Houghton and Baraga Counties but no evidence related to her disappearance was found. The searches were conducted in cooperation between the Baraga County Search and Rescue, Superior Search and Rescue and the Michigan Department of Corrections ERT out of Baraga, Marquette and Marinesco. Additional assistance was provided by the American Red Cross of Marquette and numerous police agencies and volunteers.

The Sheriff’s Office says donations to help the family of Leah Harding should be made at the Baraga County Federal Credit Union in L’Anse and deposited into an account for Leah’s daughter, Carly.

Donation cans for the search for Harding were previously placed in and around Houghton, Baraga and Ontonagon Counties. The Sheriff’s Departments reports that the family of Leah Harding says these cans are not legitimate and not approved by them. Any businesses or locations still having donation cans are asked to take them down and call the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office at (906) 482-0055 to pick them up.

Information on how to donate can be obtained by calling the Baraga County Credit Union at (906) 524-5515, or by stopping by their location at 101 East Broad Street in L’Anse. Anyone that has information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of Leah Harding are urged to call the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department office.