Nadia Kajouji, an 18-year-old student at Carleton University in Ottawa, has been missing for over a week. Her roommates last saw her leaving the Prescott suite residence the night of Sunday, March 9, when she returned from spending reading week with her family in Brampton.
Kajouji’s parents have offered a $50,000 reward for her safe return. The couple was notified of her disappearance on March 12 and immediately drove to Ottawa.
Deborah Chevalier, Kajouji’s mother, told the Ottawa Citizen that the first-year public affairs student was depressed in recent weeks and disappointed with her marks in school. Chevalier has returned to the family home in Brampton, while her father, Mohamed Kajouji, is staying in Ottawa to search for her.
Ottawa police say there was no sign of a break-in or disturbance at Kajouji’s dorm. “At this time, there’s no information to lead us to believe foul play is a factor in this case,” said constable Alain
Boucher of the Ottawa Police Service. Boucher said Tuesday that there were no new developments in the case. “Officers are still trying to retrace where she’s been and the last time she was seen,” he said. “We have an idea, but we’re still trying to confirm different sources.”
Worried family and friends are organizing their own search efforts, including a ground search that began at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning outside Kajouji’s residence.
Kajouji was reported missing on Wednesday, March 12. On Thursday, Carleton University sent out a missing person advisory to students, faculty and staff. Kajouji is described as Mediterranean, dark skin, 5’8”, 130 lbs, hazel eyes, and shoulder length brown hair with blonde streaks. Her eyebrow and tongue are pierced.
“She was very outgoing, happy-golucky,” said Candita Marten-Mills, Kajouji’s aunt. “This is not typical of her, so we’re thinking she’s somehow being held against her will.”
A Facebook group to help find Kajouji, started by Marten-Mills, has over 7,000 members.
“Lots of people have stepped up to help,” she said.
