Left and Right: Patricia, circa 1984
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: September 30, 1984
Missing From: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: February 10, 1966
Age: 18 years old
Height and Weight: 5’7″ and 100 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Indigenous female, Black hair, Brown eyes. Patricia has a tattoo on her right thumb. Her hair is naturally black and curly but she had it dyed blonde a week before disappeared. She was struggling with substance abuse at the time of her 1984 disappearance. Patricia might go by the nickname “Patsy”
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A white blouse, a pair of blue jeans, and grey boots.
Details of Disappearance
Patricia was last seen in Regina, Saskatchewan on September 30th 1984. Witnesses last saw her on the corner of 1900 Osler Street and 12th Avenue at 10:30 pm, just two blocks away from the police station. She was getting into small red, orange or blue colored car with an unidentified man. This was the last time anyone reported seeing Favel.
The car was described as being a Japanese made vehicle, potentially a Datsun or a Toyota. The interior of the car was red and there was a white racing stripe. The car had visible defrosting wires across the rear window, bucket seats in the front and a distinct Chinese Pagoda hanging from the rear view mirror.
A woman who was approached by the same man 10-15 minutes before he picked up Favel was able to give a description of him to investigators. The individual is described as an Oriental man who appeared to be in his early twenties with short hair and a long neck. He carried cash in a brown attaché case. The witness described the man as “courteous, quiet but with a slight hint of temper.”
The woman said that when she told the man he was overtime, he got angry and riled her up. She screamed in response after which he dropped her off in the 2100 block of Halifax Street. He then began heading in the direction of Osler Street where he picked up Patricia. The witness never saw the man in the area before September 30th and didn’t see him again afterward.
When she couldn’t be found anywhere the following day, her family attempted to reporter her missing but they were told they had to wait 72 hours before someone could be considered missing. Favel was reported as missing on October 2nd but searches of the area she was last seen in yielded little to no clues as to her whereabouts. Her parents spent weeks searching alleys, driving down area streets, sifting through garbage cans and even consulting an elder who had a vision of Favel. Sadly, none of these efforts led anywhere.
Patricia and her older sister, Maxine were known to abuse drugs in 1984; specifically a mix of Talwin and Ritalin. She was known to engage in prostitution to be able to afford her habits; she would typically charge $60 to a client. Favel was not working for a pimp at the time of her disappearance. One known pimp did attempt to take control of the Osler Street area after she went missing but he was in prison on the night she vanished.
According to her roommate, Patricia’s addiction was expensive and cost over $100. Favel checked herself into a detoxification centre in an effort to end her addiction. A week before she would go missing, Favel called her mother and told her that life was unbearable at the treatment facility. She missed her son dearly and felt lonesome without him. Patricia was still struggling with her addiction but she went home anyways.
Over the years, some individuals have claimed that Favel was shot to death by two unnamed men in the street wars for drugs, prostitution and turf. According to the story, Patricia was targeted by the men because they mistook her for Maxine. There is no evidence to substantiate these claims, however.
Some women who knew Favel reported she had picked up a man from the Calgary area in mid-September 1984 and took him to her apartment building. Favel then robbed the man of $1,500. Some people close to her believe this man might’ve come back for revenge in relation to the theft. The man has not been publicly identified and it’s unclear if he’s considered a suspect in Favel’s disappearance.
Following Favel’s disappearance, someone went into her unlocked apartment and stole all of her clothes as well as her son’s clothing. It’s unclear if the person who stole the clothes had anything to do with Patricia’s disappearance. Family friends helped get clothes for her son after the theft.
Favel’s family and friends have discounted any theories that she left on her own accord. Patricia had just celebrated her son’s first birthday four days before she went missing and she loved him dearly. She would’ve never left him behind willingly. In fact, Patricia’s mother remembers how proud her daughter was of the time she paid to have photos of her and her son taken professionally.
Favel had $200 for gas but it’s unclear if she had this money on her at the time of her disappearance. She owned a brown 1975 Camaro in 1984 but she left her car keys with a friend. Her mother sold the car later on and put the money in a trust fund for Patricia’s son.
Those who knew Patricia described her as quiet yet very sweet and kind. As a child, she had been forcibly removed from her home during a period known as “The Sixties Scoop” and placed in foster care. She was later returned to her family, however. She grew up on Kawacatoose First Nation and loved reading as a child. She became depressed in her teenage years according to family and friends.
Patricia’s family as well as the families of other missing or murdered Indigenous Women have stated they do not feel the police have ever prioritized their loved one’s cases. Patricia was treated as a “troubled runaway” and was victim blamed due to her doing sex work. Many of these families feel a deep mistrust with local police as well as the RCMP due to their mishandling of these cases. Favel’s disappearance remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Regina Police Service – Cold Case Unit 306-777-8649
Source Information