Search for missing N.B. teen scaled back

A First Nation communityis scaling back its search for a teenaged girl who hasn't been seen since Sept. 5.

Hilary Bonnell, 16,was last seen walking alongHighway 11 after attending a partywith friends the night before, on the Eskinuopitijk First Nation, commonly known as Burnt Church, northeast of Miramachi.

After Tri-County Ground Search and Rescue wrapped up an official search on Sept. 11, family, friends and community members continued to look for the aboriginal teenager.

Bonnell's cousin said that kind of effort could not be sustained.

"We're running out of areas to search so what we're doing [is] going back to places that we have searched and maybe rechecking them," said Curtis Bartibogue.

He said family members continue to search nearby woods and river banks. New Brunswick RCMP said the case is still active.

The Eskinuopitijk First Nation is offering a $15,000 reward to anyone with information leading to Bonnell's safe return.

Bonnell has dark eyes and black, shoulder-length hair. She is five feet five inches tall and weighs about 134 pounds. She was last seen wearing a purple T-shirt, a black sweater, jean shorts and sandals.