'Hugely worried' family searches Winnipeg for missing woman, 21, last seen near U of Manitoba

UPDATE Oct. 19, 2019 (5:39 PM CT): The body of Taylor Price has been found, Winnipeg police say

Friends and family of a missing Winnipeg woman are still looking for her two days after her disappearance.

According to a Facebook page,Taylor Pryor's family is organizing a search of the city for the missing 21-year-old, who has been struggling with depression and anxiety. She was discharged from a Winnipeg hospital Thursday, but refused to return home with her mother.

"[We're] hugely worried because we can't trust that she is safe, and we can't trust that she will keep herself safe," said Darseen Pryor, Taylor's mother.

"She has no phone. She's got no ID. She's out there in sandals and socks,not dressed well for this kind of weather."

Taylorwas last seen around 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the area of the University of Manitoba.

Pryor, who lives in Portage la Prairie, went to pick Taylor up at Victoria Hospital's urgent care department, but Taylor told her mom she wouldn't go with her.

"[Hospital] staffsaid, 'well, she's an adult, she can do what she wants,'" Pryor said. "So she left on foot and I followed in the vehicle until she scaled the fence on Pembina Highway into the U of M."

On the other side of the chain-link fence, Taylordisappeared into the trees and field of the former Southwood golf course.

"And I lost her there," said Pryor, who had to turn her vehicle around and find a place to park before she could go searching on foot.

"I walked the area there for a little while and then I called police."

A spokesperson for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority could not speak specifically to Taylor's case, or confirm whether the 21-year-old was a patient of the WRHA.

The spokesperson said for patients presentingwith mental health concerns, part of the decision to discharge them would considerthe patient's potential risk to harm themselves or others.

"Should a patient express an immediate plan for self-harm or that there is a risk that they will harm others, the hospital would take steps to address those particular concerns," the spokesperson said in an email.

The spokesperson said the decision to discharge a patient is made by their entire care team, which caninclude emergency department nurses, psychiatric nurses, physicians, psychiatrists and other specialists.

Once the team has decided to discharge a patient, they would work together to review their care plan in the community, which would include either creating links to community supports or reviewing any existing plans for follow up appointments and care, she said.

"If a patient has been medically cleared for discharge with a plan in place for follow-up appointments they are free to leave the hospital," the spokesperson said.

"Patients cannot be held in the hospital against their will without appropriate cause determined by medical professionals."

Pryor and other family members, along with friends, searched for Taylor until about 2 a.m. Friday. After a short break, they received a tip and went back out until about 4 a.m.

"Couldn't find her. Still no word, nothing," she said, adding police sent theirAir1 helicopter over the area and U of M security have been alerted and have photos of Taylor.

The search continued Saturday, with people meeting around 8:30 a.m. atCharleswood Mennonite Church on Haney Street.

Taylorhas been living in the city andattending Canadian Mennonite University, but has not returned to her apartment.

Pryor and the searchershave looked there as well as in other areas of Winnipeg, including downtown.

Police askthe public to keep their eyes open for Taylor, who was last seenwearing a black jacket, black sweatpants, socks and sandals.

Sheisfive feet, six inches,with a medium build, long curly brown hairand hazel eyes. She also wearsprescription glasses.

Anyone with information is urged to call the missing persons unit at 986-6250.