Missing N.L. woman may be crime victim: RNC

Police say they haven't ruled out foul play in the case of a St. John's woman who has been missing since July.

Ann Marie Shirran, 32, fromthe city's Kilbride area,was reported missing on July 18.

On Thursday, police searched the Blackhead area, between Shea Heights and Cape Spear, near St. John's.

Police used boats to search the ocean off Blackhead and cadaver dogs borrowed from the Ontario Provincial Police were used to search the woods and trails in the area until about9 p.m.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary saidit could not divulge details of an ongoing investigation but added that the force's investigation ledthem to the Blackhead area.

"We are [in the Blackhead area] for a specific reason," said Const. Suzanne FitzGerald.

A ground search was launched in wooded areas and ponds near Shirran'shome, as well as the Bowring Park area in the days after shewas last seen.

The RNC had said itreceived a tip that Shirran, who formerly lived in Steady Brook and had been known as Ann Baggs, was seen on Newfoundland's west coast. But police said they were unable to confirm that shewas recently seen there.