Manitoba

Thelma Krull: Transit union hopes to up reward with whistle sale

The union representing Winnipeg Transit workers is hoping a whistle sale will help them up the reward for Thelma Krull, a 57-year-old Winnipeg woman who has been missing for more than a week.

Krull, 57, was last seen on morning of July 11 in north part of Transcona, family says

Hundreds of people took part in the "Help Light the Way for Thelma" walk on Concordia Avenue Saturday night. Several community searches have been conducted for Thelmla Krull since she was reported missing July 11, 2015. (Travis Golby/CBC)

The union representing Winnipeg Transit workers is hoping a whistle sale will help them up the reward for Thelma Krull, a 57-year-old Winnipeg woman who has been missing for more than a week.

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 offered a $5,000 reward to anyone with information that helps investigators locate Krull.

John Callahan, the president of the union, said they are now selling key chains with whistles and flashlights, and plan to increase the reward amount based on those sales.

Robert Krull, Thelma Krull's husband, has worked as a bus driver for Winnipeg Transit since 2007. Callahan said the reward grew out of Robert Krull's coworkers wanting to do whatever they could to help.

"Everyone wanted to do something. There's all kinds of people out searching and what not. We thought we'd do something a little more, so this is what we came up with," Callahan said.

"Bus operators are kind of the eyes and the ears of the city, and everyone's got an eye out but they wanted to do more. And they thought: 'Maybe start some kind of initiative to get someone to talk.' They're hopeful, the family's hopeful, so we're hopeful with them."

The whistles will be inscribed with the words "Whistle for Thelma," Callahan said. The whistles go on sale Wednesday at the union office.

Last seen July 11

Krull was last seen at her home in the north part of Transcona on Saturday morning, July 11. She set off on a hike toward Chief Peguis Trail, and when she didn't show up for her grandson's birthday later that afternoon, Krull's family became concerned and called police.

Krull is described as five-foot-four-inches tall, 170 pounds, and has short dyed-blonde hair with a purple streak and glasses. 

Anyone with information about Krull's whereabouts is asked to contact the Winnipeg Police Service Missing Persons Unit at 204-986-6250.​