Irma Galastica, a 34-year-old Toronto mother, vanished over a year ago, and now investigators fear she may have met with foul play. The Halton Regional Police announced on Friday that they are increasing the reward for credible information regarding her disappearance to $25,000, hoping to generate new leads in the perplexing case.
Last Known Movements
Galastica was last seen on August 30, 2024, at the Sankofa Restaurant and Lounge in Hamilton, a venue known for its violent history, including several shootings. She was accompanied by a new acquaintance named Ashley. That same night, the establishment faced a liquor licence suspension. From there, the pair reportedly attended a house party on rural Old York Road in Burlington, where Galastica texted her family that she would not be returning home that night.
When Ashley left with another friend, Galastica chose to stay. Police later discovered that in the early morning hours, she made a 911 call that was quickly disconnected. She was last seen at the property on the afternoon of August 31, 2024.
Investigation and Reward
When Galastica failed to return to Toronto, her family filed a missing persons report. Ashley, upon seeing media coverage, contacted police to report their whereabouts. Two weeks later, during an extensive search of the Old York Road property, officers uncovered an elaborate clandestine drug lab. However, there was no trace of Galastica.
Detective Sergeant Mark Brewster stated, “With the information we currently have, Irma has not been seen or heard from since and we believe that foul play is a possibility.” He added that investigators have spoken to everyone present at the property except for Eric J. Carpenter, who is believed to have fled to Mexico City. Carpenter is wanted on charges related to the drug lab and is considered a person of interest.
Community Concerns
Friends and police alike worry that Galastica, who also used the name Irma Grindz and worked as a health and branding entrepreneur, may have fallen victim to a sex-trafficking ring or worse. One detective familiar with the case commented, “It really doesn’t look great. When you start looking at the time frame and some of the circumstances, it doesn’t look promising.”
Galastica is described as 5-foot-5, with a medium build and shoulder-length black hair. Anyone with information is urged to contact Halton Regional Police at 905-825-4777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
