Organized Abduction, Torture, Exploitation and Murder of Women and Children on Canada's West Coast

[Magda Hassan]

http://www.missingnativewomen.org/bc.htm


MISSING/MURDERED NATIVE WOMEN IN CANADA

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[B] HIGHWAY OF TEARS ( BC )


Highway 16 aka "Highway of Tears"

[/B][/B] [B][B][B]Highway 16 west has been dubbed the Highway of Tears, after at least five First Nations women vanished or were found murdered there, between 1994-1995.
In recent years, more women of Aboriginal ancestry have disappeared, or have been found murdered in this area.

[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B]NONE OF THESE CASES HAVE BEEN SOLVED.[/B][/B][/B][B][B]

Highway 16 aka "Highway of Tears" starts in the Rocky Mountains on the eastern border of BC, and extends right across the province to the western border. Starting close to Valemont in the east, it cuts through McBride, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, New Hazelton, Terrace and Prince Rupert in the west. From Prince Rupert, the ferry brings you down the inner channel to connect to Port Hardy and Port McNeill on Vancouver Island.

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MURDERED

Ramona Wilson
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RAMONA WILSON , aged 15, was hitchhiking to her friends home in Smithers, BC, on June 11, 1994. Ramona's body was found a year later near the Smithers Airport.
[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B]Every year on Ramona's birthday, the Wilson family gathers at the site for a memorial, a heartbreaking ritual that she said will continue until the case is solved
UNSOLVED
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MISSING

Lana Derrick

[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B] LANA DERRICK, , aged 19, disappeared Oct. 7, 1995, at a service station in Thornhill while home from school for the weekend. Lana was enrolled in forestry studies at Northwest Community College.
UNSOLVED

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MISSING

Delphine Nikal
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DELPHINE NIKAL , aged 16. Disappeared from Smithers, BC on June 13, 1995, hitchhiking east on Highway 16 from Smithers to her home in Telkwa.
[B]UNSOLVED
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[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B]MISSING

[/B][/B][/B] [B][B][B]Cecilia Nikal[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B]

CECILIA ANNE NIKAL, a cousin of Delphine Nikal, has been missing since 1989.
UNSOLVED
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MURDERED

Roxanne Thiara[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B]

ROXANNE THIARA , aged 15 disappeared from Prince George, went missing in Nov, 1994.
Her body was discovered dumped near Burns Lake on December 9, 1994.
[B]UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Alishia Demarah Germaine
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ALISHIA DEMARAH GERMAINE, aka Leah Germaine or Leah Cunningham, 16, attended a Christmas dinner hosted by the RCMP at the Native Friendship Centre on George Street on December 9, 1994. She left around 8:00 pm and was seen at the then - Holiday Inn, also on George Street and J.C. Funland. At 11:45 the same night, police were called to Haldi Road School on Leslie Road. Three people cutting through the school yard came across the body of a young woman. It was Leah Germaine. An autopsy revealed she was the victim of multiple stab wounds.
The 16 year old was a drug-user and was known to work the city streets as a prostitute. Subsequent stories reported she was trying to straigten out her life, get off the streets and finish her education. She never got the chance. A composite drawing was done by someone, a possible witness, who may have seen Germaine on the night she was killed. The effort met with success. However, after interviewing the person in the drawing, police were still no closer to finding Germaine's killer.
Still later in December, police were on the search for the owner of a dark blue pick up truck with a home made canopy of the back that was parked on Fifth Avenue downtown, near the Post Office the night Germaine was killed. Some of Germaine's remains and personal effects had been found near that location. However, police were quick to add the owner of the truck was not a suspect, but may simply have seen something of importance.
Early on in the investigation, there were some suspicions Germaine's murder and those of Roxanee Thiara, Cindy Burke in Dawson Creek and Delphine Nikal and Ramona Wilson, both of Smithers were connnected. All the victims were between the ages of 15 and 20. A team of investigators, including two FBI trained behavioural profilers came to the area for a week in 1995. However, that theory has since been dispelled by these investigators
Some still believe that the murders of so many young native women in the area IS the work of a serial killer(s). UNSOLVED[/B][/B][/B] [B][B][B]

MURDERED

Deena Lynn Braem[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B]

DEENA LYNN BRAEM, aged 16, of Quesnel, BC, was last seen alive onSeptember 25, 1999, at approx 4:00 am and was later reported as a missing person to the Quesnel Det of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Deena, sadly enough was only two days away from turning 17 years old, when she was last seen. Early in the investigation, it was felt Deena's disappearance was the result of foul play.
On December 10, 1999, human remains were located near Pinnacles park, located a short distance west from the City of Quesnel, B.C. The subsequent autopsy proved that indeed the remains were those of Deena Braem and confirmed she had been murdered.
The investigation determined that the day before Deena's disappearance she attended school on Friday(September 24, 1999), at Correlieu Secondary in Quesnel, where she was just beginning her final year of public school. Further, she had secured the approval of her parents to remain in Quesnel, with friends for the weekend. The purpose was to celebrate her pending 17th birthday. Deena Braem and close friends eventually attended a outdoor party in the Quesnel area, which is commonly known as the four by four track. Deena and friends arrived at the party, at approx 8:30 - 9:30 pm and remained there for sometime. The evening was spent socializing among friends and acquaintances. Deena had been drinking alcohol, but according to friends was not drunk when they had decided to leave the party. Deena and a close friend obtained a ride from the party site, back into the City of Quesnel and were dropped off at a residence on English Avenue, at approx 2:30 am on September 25, 1999. Deena and her girlfriend stayed at the home for only a short time, when on Deena's urging they departed.
It is unknown why, but at some point through the evening, Deena had decided she wanted to go home instead of staying in town with friends. The two girls walked the short distance from the English Avenue residence, to the intersection of North Fraser Drive and Edkins Street. It was from this area and further up North Fraser Drive to the intersection of Fuller, Deena and her friend attempted to garner a ride to Bouchie Lake, by hitchhiking. Bouchie Lake, is a rural area which is approx 10 km west of the City of Quesnel, and was the area that Deena lived with her Mom and Dad. Due to the wet cold weather, Deena's girlfriend elected to return to the home they had departed and Deena continued to hitchhike.
The investigation developed numerous witnesses, both who knew Deena Braem and those who did not, which placed her in close proximity on North Fraser Drive, with two males in their teens, to possibly their early twenties. These two males have yet to come forward.At a news conference in November 2001, held at the Quesnel Detachment, police pinpointed two important issues facing the investigation. The first being the two teenagers who were seen near Deena on the morning she went missing.
The RCMP obviously would like to speak with both, as it is believed they could very well have information important to the investigation. Secondly, during January 2000, investigators located an item or items along Baker Drive, near Baker Creek Road, Quesnel BC, which appears to have significant value to the investigation. The RCMP are asking anyone who may have found a backpack, school binder, thermos, candle, a magnetic learners licence sign or clothing within the area described to contact the police. The "areas" of significance being Baker Drive, Pinnacles Road and North Fraser Drive, including all side roads leading from these main arteries. The family of Deena Braem, the community and the RCMP are asking any person information to please come forward. There is no doubt in the investigators minds that there are persons which have the information required, which would then bring this to a successful conclusion. Further, people may have information which they feel is inconsequential but are being asked regardless of their opinion of the relevance, to contact the police. Do not hesitate to contact Corporal Brissard, the Quesnel Detachment or any Detachment of the RCMP, your local municipal police force or Crime Stoppers.
UNSOLVED
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MURDERED

Aielah Saric-Auger

[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B]AIELAH SARIC-AUGER, aged 14 disappeared on Feb. 2, 2006. She was last seen near a bar in Prince George.
Remains discovered on Highway 16 East, on Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 were identified as hers. She had been murdered.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP.

UNSOLVED[/B]

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MISSING

Tamara Chipman
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[B]TAMARA CHIPMAN, aged 22 was last seen hitchhiking eastbound on Hwy16 near Prince Rupert's industrial park around 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 2005.
She wasn't reported missing by her family until Nov. 10 as they thought she might have been visiting relatives in the Lower Mainland.
RCMP began their investigation Nov. 15, using officers from Terrace, Prince Rupert and Kitimat.
Chipman's aunt, Lorna Brown, appealed to the public to keep an eye out for the missing woman at a Nov. 23 press conference held at the RCMP detachment here.
"I would just like to plead with anybody who has seen Tamara or has seen anyone who's seen her. Lord I pray she's found and I pray that anybody who comes across her since September 21 that they would contact RCMP," said Brown.
"This is a girl who's loved by her father, stepmother and family. She's loved by all her family. If anybody has information, please contact local RCMP."
Brown said her niece, who is very close to her father and stepmother, might not contact her family for a couple days, but it's unusual for her to be gone for weeks. She noted that Chipman, who doesn't have a job, was the primary caregiver to her two-year-old son Jaden, who is now in the care of his father, Rob Parker. Parker, 42, and an ex-boyfriend of Chipman's said he was one of the last people to talk to her in Terrace on Sept. 17 or 18. She called him despite there being a no-contact court order in place between them.
"That's the last time I ever heard her voice," he said.
Parker said he had heard about her being seen hitchhiking from Prince Rupert back to here, but said he never heard from her and no one he knows has seen her here. "I don't believe she ever got here," he said, adding that maybe she's become lost like other women along Hwy 16. "I believe it's something else. The trail is in Rupert."
Parker has agreed to take a lie detector test at the Terrace RCMP detachment so police can "focus their investigation in the right direction." "I have way too much to lose and I'd never think of killing an ex spouse," he said.
"We want her home for Christmas," he said. "All we want to know is if she's [okay]."
Ten RCMP officers are working on the investigation.
Tamara's family has done an extensive search of the highway themselves, as well.
Officers are also talking with the major crimes unit in Prince George which continues to investigate the disappearance of numerous women along Hwy 16 over the past decade. Stubbs said police believe Chipman had been in Prince Rupert visiting friends and partying from Sept. 19 to 21, prior to her disappearance. Chipman's bank account has not been used and she's not had contact with anyone since Sept. 21, Stubbs said. The smallest piece of information could further the investigation and help police find Chipman, Prince Rupert RCMP inspector Ray Noble said. He urged people with any information to come forward even if they didn't think what they knew was important so that police could follow up on all avenues of investigation. He appealed to anyone who partied in Prince Rupert bars and may have seen Chipman to come forward.
Chipman is described as an aboriginal female, about 5'10" tall and weighing 130 pounds. She has brown eyes and very short brown hair but was known to wear various blonde, brunette and red wigs. Police said it's unclear what clothes she was wearing at the time of her disappearance.
Stubbs wouldn't comment on specifically who the police have spoken with, but said they've talked to many people. "Clearly we don't disclose our full investigation to the media so clearly we're holding back information from parts of our investigation for obvious reasons," he said. "What it comes down to is we can't taint public opinion."
If charges are laid in the case and the trial goes to a jury, considering the jury is taken from the public and the public is exposed to information via the media that incriminated somebody, people could be jaded about a suspect and the trial can collapse as a result, he said. Stubbs said police are conducting a search but wouldn't say how or where they're searching.
"We definitely have been receiving tips and they definitely range in detail and quality," he added.
He said police procedure on missing persons varies depending on the circumstances, but contrary to popular belief, police do not have to wait 24 hours before acting on a missing persons report. Terrace RCMP have sent out information about Chipman's disappearance all around B.C. and Alberta. Stubbs declined to comment on whether police had any physical evidence about Chipman. He believes people still hitchhike because it's a cheap mode of transportation.
"We never advise anyone to hitchhike, male or female, anyone no matter how old you are," he said.
Anyone who may have seen Tamara Chipman hitchhiking Sept. 21, or has seen her since, is asked to call the Terrace RCMP detachment at 638-7400, the Prince Rupert RCMP detachment at (250) 627-0700 or Crimestoppers at 635-8477 or 627-8477.
UNSOLVED
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MISSING

Mary Madeline George

[/B][/B][B][B]MARY MADELINE GEORGE, was last seen on July 24th, 2005 at approximately 6:00 pm. Mary was going to walk from Ospika Blvd to the Spruceland Mall Walk In Clinic. Mary suffers from a slight amnesia and depression. Mary GEORGE is described as First Nations female, 5'3" tall, 140 lbs with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone that has information on Mary's whereabouts is asked to contact the RCMP at 561-3300.
UNSOLVED
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MISSING

Crystal Lee Okimaw

[/B][/B][B][B][B] CRYSTAL LEE OKIMAW, aged 24, disappeared from a women's shelter in Prince George, in February, 2006. Police suspect foul play.
If you have any information regarding Crystal's whereabouts, please contact RCMP.

UNSOLVED
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MURDERED

Melanie Dawn Brown[/B][/B][B][B]

MELANIE DAWN BROWN, aged 31, of Prince George, BC was was found deceased in a basement suite located in the 400 block of Olgivie Street at approximately 4:00 pm on December 8th , 2004. An autopsy confirmed the cause of Melanie's death was to be homicide.
Police are not releasing the exact cause of death at this time.
Anyone that has information into the homicide investigation of Melanie BROWN is asked to call Cpl. Lynch - North District Major Crimes Unit at 561-3161, or they may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers only needs your information - not your name.
[/B][/B] [B][B][B]UNSOLVED
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[B]MISSING


Corrine Cunningham

[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B]CORRINE CUNNINGHAM, aged 19 of the Katzie Reserve near Pitt Meadows, BC, disappeared on November 24th, 2005 at approximately 3 pm when she left "New Transitions" in the Industrial Park, Pitt Meadows, British Columbia.
Corrina is extremely friendly, naive and has a tendency to befriend older men. Corrina is artistically inclined and has been known to sit and draw on the side of the road.
Corrine has a developmental disability with the mental capacity of a 12-year-old. Corrina was last seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap and black corduroy pants, carrying a black and grey backpack. She may have other clothing with her. She has an eyebrow ring above her right eye. Corrina is approximately 5'1", 175lbs, with shoulder length wavy dark brown hair.
Corrina may be riding her new black BMX bicycle. Anyone who may have seen or knows the whereabouts of Corrina or the location of her BMX bicycle are asked to contact the Ridge Meadows RCMP Detachment immediately at 604 - 465-2402.
UNSOLVED
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MURDERED

Helena Jack

[/B][/B][B][B]HELENA JACK, aged 71, of Burns Lake, BC, was murdered on July 29th, 2004.

Ms. Jack was a well known resident of Burns Lake, and member of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation.

Police believe Vincent Sam followed her into the garage on the night of the assault. Sam was arrested in August, 2004, shortly after Burns Lake Fire and Rescue discovered the severely beaten body of Helena Jack in a burnt-out garage beside a cabin on the 600-block of highway 16.

According to the Burns Lake RCMP, the investigation, led by Prince George Major Crime Unit, found evidence in the garage directing their search to a local motel room.

They believe their suspect tried to wash his body of evidence linking him to the crime, before returning to his residence later that night. Investigators found DNA in the hotel room that matched DNA found at the crime scene. It belonged to Vincent Sam. Sam was charged with Helena Jack's murder on Sept. 4th 2004, and was convicted of first degree murder in her death. He was sentenced to life in prison.
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MISSING

Belinda Ann Cameron

[/B][/B][B][B]BELINDA ANN CAMERON, aged 42 of Esquimalt, B C, disappeared in early May, 2005. Belinda, also known as Belinda Ann Engen. Belinda is described as a Native female, 5'8", 170 lbs. with black hair. She suffers from schizophrenia and needs daily medication to keep the condition in check. Belinda is believed to be involved in the sex trade and drug use. Belinda has not picked up her welfare cheques, and has missed several appointments, leading us to believe she has met with foul play.
If you have any information on this crime or any other crime please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
[B]UNSOLVED

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MISSING

Dorcas Gail Shorson

[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B]DORCAS GAIL SHORSON, aged 24, of Surrey BC was last seen April 2, 2005 when she left the family home on Larner Road.
Shorson is described as aboriginal, five feet five inches tall, 131 pounds with red hair and brown eyes. She was wearing jeans and a blue coat when last seen.
Police say the missing woman is likely a sex-trade worker in Vancouver or Surrey and is taking drugs.
"We're worried about her because she is in a line of work that is very risky," said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Diane Blain.
"We are hoping that people will have eyes and ears for her out there and that they can call us to say that she is safe."

UNSOLVED [/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B]



[B]MISSING

Lisa Paul

[/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B]LISA PAUL , aged 17 of Vancouver, BC, disappeared from her home on August 4, 2005. Lisa is known to frequent the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and her family and police are concerned for her safety. She is described as First Nations, 5' 8", 135 lbs., with long brown hair and brown eyes.
UNSOLVED>
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MURDERED

Lorna Ulmer-Billy

[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B] LORNA ULMER-BILLY, aged 15, of Surrey BC was murdered by her on again/off again boyfriend in June, 2005.

Lorna, on the honour roll at Surrey's Enver Creek Secondary during Grade 9 in 2004, died in hospital of what police called "extremely serious injuries." Her parents had met Widman a few times and initially had concerns about him, her uncle said. Lorna was "a loving, caring person," her father, Brent Billy, said outside court.

The girl had run away from her Surrey home, where she lived with her mother and stepfather, a number of times in 2005, police said. Twice, Surrey RCMP put out bulletins seeking public help in finding her.

"[Lorna] has run away in the past to Squamish and Vancouver," Const. Marc Searle said in a June 2005 appeal for assistance. She was described as native, five-foot-four and 124 pounds. The age of consent is 14, so there's nothing legally wrong with a 21-year-old man having a relationship with a 15-year-old girl. But such relationships can be "problematic," said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Roger Morrow. "There's always the scenario we think of where a girl is being drawn away, and some may use the term 'lured,' from their family and their school by older, more mature men," Morrow said. "There is the potential, when you don't have the guidance of your parents, of going astray."

Widman had been renting a suite for a year in a large home in the 1300-block Charter Hill Drive. His landlord, Julie Bates, lived upstairs. Widman's grandmother said he was a talented artist. "He was always pleasant to me, and he was always glad to see me," said his grandmother, who did not want to be named. "I'd always get a big hug."

Brian Kenneth Widman, a 21-year-old Coquitlam man, has been charged with Lorna's murder. Case is still before the courts.
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MISSING

Tawyna Megan Lisk
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TAWYNA MEGAN LISK, aged 16, was last seen on on Sunday,July 18th, 2004. when she called a friend from Vernon and stated she was going to Calgary Alberta .
Tawyna is described as:
Native
Ht: 170 cm (5' 7")
Wt: 73 kg (162 lbs)

Reddish Brown hair, shoulder length Brown eyes

As there is some indication that Tawnya may have gone to the Calgary area and that her mode of transportation is unknown, it is suspected she may have hitch-hiked. Steps are underway with Ministry of Children and Family's in both BC and Alberta to establish her whereabouts.
If anyone has any information in regards to Tawnya's whereabouts, please contact Kamloops City Detachment RCMP at 250-828-3000.

[/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B] UNSOLVED
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MISSING

Sarah Strachan[/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B]

SARAH STRACHAN, 16- Missing from Coquitlam, BC. Sarah Strachan was last seen on Saturday, February 7th, 2004.
She is described as a Native female, 5'6" tall, 100 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. She was wearing black pants, a blue t-shirt and a black hoodie.
Sarah may have disappeared with her friend, fourteen-year-old Leah Nestegard. She is a Caucasian female, 5'5" tall, 148 lbs., with blond hair and hazel eyes. She was wearing black pants, a grey ski jacket and blue running shoes. Anyone with information is asked to phone Coquitlam RCMP.
UNSOLVED

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MISSING

Christina Wallace[/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B]

[B]CHRISTINA WALLACE, a 72 year old native woman missing from Vancouver, BC. Police are asking for the public's assistance in locating Christina Wallace, who was last seen in the area near Victoria Drive and East 47th Avenue, in Vancouver, on May 31st, 2004. Ms. Wallace is a 72-year-old Native Indian woman described as, 5'7 in height and 130lbs. She has brown eyes and long hair that is "salt and pepper" grey in colour. She was wearing a white blouse, blue dress pants and a yellow and purple scarf. Ms. Wallace does suffer a bit of dementia and may be confused. Police are asking for anyone who may know the whereabouts of Christina Wallace to call 911.
UNSOLVED
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MURDERED

Ada Brown[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B]

ADA BROWN, aged 39 of Prince George, BC, died three weeks after suffering a serious head injury during a beating.
Her family reports that she sought medical attention on three different occasions, following the beating and was turned away.
"When she died, and we went to the funeral home, my sister and I didn't recognize her. It was obvious she had been badly beaten several times yet the authorities had ruled she died of 'natural causes.' It is a sad thing when you realize your baby sister was marginalized in life and in death." states her sister, Terri Brown.
UNSOLVED[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B] [B][B][B][B][B]


MURDERED

Savannaha Hall

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B] SAVANNAHA HALL, aged 3 of BC, died as a result of violence on her by her foster parents. Savanna was placed into care in 1999 and placed in a foster home in Prince George, BC. She died in January 2001 after her foster parents took her to hospital in a coma. Her foster parents brought her to hospital after finding her struggling to breathe in her crib.
An autopsy couldn't determine her cause of death, but noted she had advanced hypothermia, excessive brain swelling and unexplained bruises. A coroner's report did not call for an inquest, despite at least two corSavannah's foster mother is suing the Ministry for Children and Family Development, alleging it didn't provide the proper support for the little girl.
In its statement of defence, the government alleged the longtime foster mother provided "substandard" care to some children. Documents also indicate that Savannah was tied up with a leather harness in her crib to control night temper tantrums.
Both a preliminary coroner's report and an internal government probe concluded she had been neglected and abused, and three doctors found her bruising was "consistent with abuse."
Two coroners lobbied internally for an inquest, but the final report did not call for one or make recommendations.
But behind the scenes a battle was waged for more than two years to hold an inquest into the January 2001 death of the foster child, according to an internal government memorandum obtained by The Vancouver Sun.
"Still believe this case should go to inquest," Beth Larcombe, the coroner who investigated the case, wrote in a 2003 e-mail to three officials in the Solicitor-General's Ministry.
Larcombe, who declined to be interviewed for this story and expressed surprise that The Sun had the memo, wrote it to provide her superiors with a detailed chronology of events in the case.
The four-page memo, which has never been published, also suggests serious misgivings within the government about the death of Savannah, who was rushed to hospital after her foster mother found her struggling to breathe in her crib.
"All agreed that some of Savannah's injuries are not consistent with accidental injuries," wrote Larcombe about a September, 2002 meeting that included senior members of the coroners service, the RCMP and the Ministry of Children and Family Development. "Especially the bruise on the bottom of her right foot and some facial contusions. Concerns still exist," wrote Larcombe, now with the regional coroners office in Vancouver.
The memo indicates the fight to have a full-blown investigation into the death of Savannah, whose foster parents were tying her up in a leather harness at night, even got the attention of Liberal MLAs Rich Coleman, now forests and range minister, and Pat Bell, now agriculture and lands minister.
The memo suggests Bell, then a Prince George MLA, sent Savannah's autopsy report to Coleman, who was then B.C.'s solicitor-general, and made some sort of request to the coroners service.
The memo did not specify what Bell's request was, but it prompted a Sept. 6, 2001 e-mail exchange between chief coroner Terry Smith, deputy chief coroner Norm Leibel, and deputy solicitor-general Tony Heemskerk, after which the politicians were advised "this is a RCMP investigation."
Coleman noted in an interview that the Crown determined there were no grounds for a charge.
Karen Johnston, a spokeswoman for current Solicitor-General John Les, said: "I'm also given to understand that police did investigate and the Crown said there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges."
Larcombe was not the only person within the coroners service demanding an inquest.
Former investigator Kathleen Stephany, who investigated Savannah's death, also wanted a probe into the Prince George foster home, which the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) now alleges had a long history of children complaining of abuse.
NDP MLA Adrian Dix, who has the foster care system under scrutiny, Monday called for an inquest.
So has Savannah's mother, Corinna Hall. "My daughter needs to rest. This should have been done a long time ago," she said.
Savannah's story has raised troubling questions about B.C.'s beleaguered child-welfare system, at a time when the government is scrambling to answer why reviews were not completed into the deaths of 713 children after the Liberals abolished the children's commission in 2002.

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MURDERED

Chelsey Acorn

[/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B] CHELSEY ACORN, aged 14 of Abbottsford BC, disappeared late in the afternoon on June 10th 2005. It is believed that Chelsea had run away and could be in the Surrey area. There has been some information that she was seen at Seven Oaks Mall in Abbotsford.
Chelsea is 5ft 3 inches tall and 115 lbs with brown hair and brown eyes.

[B]UPDATE
In April, 2007, campers discovered Chelsey Acorn's body in a shallow grave near Hope, B.C. Chelsea Acorn, 14, was reported missing in June 2005, after she failed to return to her group home in Abbotsford, B.C. (CBC) Acorn's mother, Lisa, is from the Island but now lives in Alberta.

Chelsey Acorn had been under the care of the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development for a couple of years. She had a reputation as a nice but troubled teen with a habit of running away. Acorn was reported missing in June 2005, after she failed to return to her group home in the Fraser Valley city of Abbotsford. Her death is still unsolved. The RCMP say they have no suspect in the killing and no motive.

Anyone who has seen or knows her whereabouts is asked to call Abbotsford Police at 604-859-5225 or their local police department.
UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Charlene Kerr

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B] CHARLENE KERR , 29, of Vancouver, BC. discovered in a pool of blood in a Gastown Hotel. She was a drug addicted prostitu
te and is believed to have been killed during a robbery in 1990. UNSOLVED
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MURDERED

Colleen Shook

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B] COLLEEN SHOOK , of Burnaby, BC, stabbed to death while getting off a bus in 1975. UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Dianne Stewart

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B]DIANNE MARY STEWART , aged 42 disappeared after leaving a house party on the Penticton Indian Reserve on December 31, 1996.
Despite a massive search Stewart was not located. On May 7, 1997 a member of the band searching for horses located some human remains. An autopsy confirmed the remains were those of Stewart and that she had been murdered.

[B] UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Mary Jane Jimmie
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B]
MARY JANE JIMMIE, was found murdered on the banks of the Fraser River on or about June 26, 1987.

[B] UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Jennifer Cusworth[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B]

JENNIFER CUSWORTH, aged 19 of Kelowna, BC, was murdered after leaving a party at a Kelowna home on October 16, 1993. Her body was found on Swamp Road.>
On the tenth anniversary of her murder, a native healing ceremony was held on Swamp Road where her body was found. More Info[B] UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Ann Ruby Threlfell

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B] ANN RUBY THRELFELL , 24, of Vancouver, BC, strangled to death, Jan. 12, 1980. UNSOLVED

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MISSING

Verna Littlechief
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B]
VERNA LITTLECHIEF aka Bernie Roberts , Date of Birth: July 2,1944
Date Last Seen: 1978 ( aged 34 ), Reported Missing: March 4,2002

Verna is a native female, 5'2" tall, with black, shoulder length hair. She was involved in the sex trade in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and has a history of alcohol abuse. Her family reported her missing last March to the RCMP in Saskatchewan as a result of the extensive media attention surrounding the missing women investigation. UNSOLVED

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[B] MISSING

Belinda Ann Cameron

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]BELINDA ANN CAMERON, aged 42 of Esquimalt, B C, disappeared in early May, 2005. Belinda, also known as Belinda Ann Engen.
Belinda is described as a Native female, 5'8", 170 lbs. with black hair. She suffers from schizophrenia and needs daily medication to keep the condition in check. Belinda is believed to be involved in the sex trade and drug use.
Belinda has not picked up her welfare cheques, and has missed several appointments, leading us to believe she has met with foul play.
If you have any information on this crime or any other crime please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

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[B] MURDERED

Michelle Caroline Choiniere

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]MICHELLE CAROLINE CHOINIERE, aged 24, of Surrey, BC, was last seen in the Guildford area, sometime between Sept. 19 and Sept. 26. Michelle is described as aboriginal, five feet nine inches tall and 131 pounds with green eyes, long reddish-brown hair, and a scar on her left knee. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a white shirt. She is known to be involved in the sex trade.
Although known to be a transient, Michelle's absence is out of character. There are medical concerns related to substance abuse.

UPDATE
Sadly Michelle's aunt Monica reports that her remains were located in the lower mainland in December, 2007. The family have had a Memorial for her on Jan. 7, 2008 in River Inlet.

No further information about the cause of Michelle's death or if charges are pending.

Police ask anyone who might know where these missing people are to call 604-599-0502 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Wendy Poole

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B] WENDY POOLE ,26, of Vancouver, found beaten to death Jan. 26, 1989 on the second floor of a Downtown Eastside housing coop. She was the mother of one and was pregnant with her second child. A man arrested in connection with her death was later acquitted. UNSOLVED

UPDATE
A VANCOUVER FIRST, EAST SIDE PARK NAMED AFTER FIRST NATIONS WOMAN :
A coalition of first nations and local community groups and individuals from Vancouver's downtown eastside campaigned with the help of Green Party Commissioner Roslyn Cassells to name a local mini-park after slain aboriginal woman Wendy Poole. Wendy, whose murder remains unsolved, is one of the many young women on the downtown eastside killed, but not forgotten. This is the first of Vancouver's almost 200 parks to be named after an aboriginal person. Most parks are named after rich white guys. Wendy was not famous, not rich, and not white. Wendy Poole had a gentle nature and a radiant smile. Her friends and family loved her and will never forget her, and our community will honour the passing of this individual, whose life and death was not so different from many others in the downtown eastside. In the highest of honour, we will remember Wendy Poole.

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MURERED

Cherish Oppenheim
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]

CHERISH BILLY OPPENHEIM , aged 16 of Merritt BC was murdered on October 13, 2001.
Her body was found after the man's arrest in Kelowna on Oct. 22, 2001 on an unrelated matter.
Police called the case suspicious because Oppenheim, 16, had never run away and had no family problems.
Neary said police found Oppenheim's body 22 kilometres south of Merritt in a wooded area. Oppenheim, a good student in Grade 11, was last seen at a convenience store in the early hours of Oct. 13 in this southern Interior community. Police and volunteers searched the area and distributed thousands of flyers across the province.
RCMP got an anonymous phone tip saying the teen had been seen getting into a car about 2:15 a.m. on the morning she disappeared.
Thelma Oppenheim, Cherish's sister, said Cherish had a curfew of 1 a.m. and was at the local 7-11 store just before heading home.
Cherish's older sister, Ashley, saw her there and walked her home.
"Her hand was touching the door handle like she was going in and then her older sister left," Thelma Oppenheim said. She said Cherish was seen later at the 7-11.
Police found the body after arresting Dezwaan on an unrelated matter, said Cpl. Sean Neary.
In one incident, he's accused of confining, sexually assaulting and robbing a Kelowna prostitute. He was also charged with threatening the new boyfriend of his former girlfriend, who testified Dezwaan threatened to "rip his head off". The former girlfriend broke into tears while being aggressively questioned by Dezwaan's lawyer. That emotional outbreak then triggered a similar reaction by Dezwaan, forcing the judge to order a recess.
Afterwards, Dezwaan was found not guilty on the threatening charge, but he was convicted on two counts of breaching a court order. He was handed a 30-day jail sentence and fined $400. Dezwaan has also been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cherish Oppenheim.
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B] [B][B][B][B][B][B] UPDATE[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]

He reversed his innocent plea to guilty of first degree murder and now faces a life sentence, with no chance of parole for fifteen years. Dezwaan apologized to her family in court, claiming alcohol abuse.
The court heard Dezwaan claim he and the teenager drank together and had sex that she agreed to, but the prosecution countered with evidence Cherish Oppenheim had been forced to have sex and was brutally beaten to death.
When he was charged with murdering the teenager, Dezwaan was in custody for breaching bail conditions related to a sex crime, shortly before he killed her.
Two months before he murdered Cherish Billy Oppenheim, he was released by Kelowna Provincial Court on Aug. 15, 2001, on $7,500 bail. But he breached court ordered conditions and police arrested him on those counts on October 19th, just a few days after the girl went missing and was found dead.
Feb. 20, 2002 Dezwaan was given a life sentence for the murder of Cherish Billy Oppenheim.

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MURDERED

Crystal Baker
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]
CRYSTAL PEGGY BAKER , aged 35,was found floating in the Fraser River, under the Port Mann Bridge on April 2002.
The body was eventually identified on June 19th, 2002, subsequent to a missing person report being filed by her boyfreind and a member of his family.
The Serious Crime investigators have determined that Crystal was last seen by her boyfriend in the vicinity of the Middle Gate Mall in Burnaby on April 22nd, 2002. She was known to be a a sex trade worker who resided in the municipality of Delta.
The investigators have also determined that Crystal was the victim of foul play although they are confident that her untimely death is not related to the sex trade. The cause of death will not be revealed at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone with information on this murder investigation is asked to call Cpl. Garry MOORE, Serious Crime Unit, Coquitlam Detachment at 604-945-1456, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Lisa Bear aka Lisa Marie Graveline
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LISA MARIE GRAVELINE AKA LISA BEAR , aged 20, found in a dumpster in downtown eastside Vancouver .wrapped in a cotton comforter, her hair pulled up in a ponytail, on May 1, 2001. She had been stabbed to death. Lisa was a drug addicted prostitute. In June 1999, her mother was found dead of a suspicious overdose behind a strip joint, the No. 5 Orange at Powell and Main.
Thong Thanh Huynh, 34, charged with Second Degree murder of Lisa. Accused goes to trial in 2004

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MURDERED

Unknown Name
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]
UNKNOWN NAME, the mother of Lisa Graveline was found dead of a suspicious overdose behind a strip joint, the No. 5 Orange, at Powell and Main.[B]UNSOLVED



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MURDERED

Alberta Williams
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]

ALBERTA WILLIAMS , aged 24, found murdered Sept. 25, 1988. She had been reported missing a month earlier.
Alberta's sister, Karen Williams, continues to ask RCMP how the case is proceeding now that their father is too ill to make the trip down to the detachment.
"The report looks the same as the first day they started," said Lorenda Kasperski, coordinator of the First Nations Women's Council in Terrace. UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Norma Tashoots
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NORMA CECILIA TASHOOTS , aged 17, originally from Iskut, BC, but residing in Vancouver..
Norma's body was found on July 10, 1989 in a wooded area near 100 Mile House.
The cause of death was as a result of a gun shot wound to the head. She was last seen alive on 89-06-25 when she was dropped off on Highway 97 in 100 Mile House. Her intention was to hitch-hike to Vancouver.
She had been visiting family in 100 Mile House, BC. Norma was last seen by her family on June 25, 1989, before leaving to return to Vancouver.
For the first few months of the investigation, investigators had no strong suspects. In October of 1989 a resident of 100 Mile House came forward and suggested that Jerry BAKER was responsible. Jerry BAKER lived in the 100 Mile House area at the time.
Investigators determined that BAKER had reported his 44 cal. Ruger handgun stolen to the Detachment in 100 Mile House the day after TASHOOTS was last seen. It was also determined that he had an extensive criminal record which included rape. BAKER became a suspect and was interviewed at which time his explanation of the circumstances surrounding the theft of his gun were very suspicious. Investigators continued to concentrated their efforts on BAKER.
In early 2001, Southeast District Major Crime Unit in Kamloops reopened the investigation. After a complete file review BAKER continued to be investigated as a possible suspect. BAKER eventually confessed murdering Norma TASHOOTS to a Police Officer and where he had disposed of the murder weapon.
On February 1, 2002, Jerry BAKER was arrested and charged with the first degree murder of Norma TASHOOTS.
In May of 2002, police recovered the handgun from a sewage lagoon near Forest Grove. The handgun was in excellent condition and was the registered handgun belonging to BAKER that he had reported stolen in 1989.
On Sept. 19, 1990, it was reported that the accused had eight convictions for various sexual assault and weapons offences.
He also had a rape conviction in 1970 for which he received five years, and two 1990 convictions for assault under s. 266, drawing suspended sentences. Along with the rape conviction, his record notes a re-committal as a parole violator in June 1972.
On 03-02-18, a Jury in Williams Lake found Jerry BAKER guilty of 1st Degree Murder and he was sentence to life with no chance of parole for 25 years. To read some of his trial report, click Here

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MURDERED

Sherry Irving[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]

SHERRY IRVING aged 24. drug addicted and worked in the sex trade. Disappeared in 1997.
UPDATE: OCT 2, 2002
Robert ( Willie ) Pickton has been charged with the first degree murder of Sherry. Her DNA was found on his pig farm in Port Coquitilam, BC.

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B]

MURDERED


Norma (Lorna) George

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B]NORMA GEORGE, aka Lorna George, aged 30, of Vancouver, BC. Her nude body was found "curled in a fetal position" on October 5th, 1992 in Aldergrove, BC. The probable cause of death was exposure. The family has many unanswered questions with regards to the police investigation, in particular with regards to the time of her disappearance and her death. Norma was missing for 5 1/2 days before her death. She was always in constant touch with her family but suddenly stopped calling. Where were her clothes and jewelery? How did she get to Aldergrove? Norma had only recently visited her home community and wanted to return permanently after finishing unsettled business in Vancouver.
Known by her family by the nickname, Adama, Norma George never returned to Takla Landing. Her half-sister, Claudine last saw her on September 28th, 1992 leaving the Balmoral Hotel on Hastings Street. She thought her sister was returning to Takla Landing as she had shouted: "I'm going home baby girl. I'm going home."
In July 2004, the Missing Women's Task Force contacted the George family requesting DNA from Norma's children. Norma's case remains open and the police have not been able to exclude a link to Robert Picton and the murders on his farm.
[B] UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Sarah Jean DeVries
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SARAH JEAN DEVRIES , aged 29. DOB May 12,1969 (29). Sarah is First Nations/Mexican/Black (mixed race) 5'2" 9157 cm, approx 99 lbs (45 kg). Last seen early morning hours of April 14, 1998.
Sarah is a known drug addict and prostitute missing from downtown eastside Vancouver.
UPDATE Robert Pickton has been charged with Sarah's Murder.

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MISSING

Lisa Marie Young
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LISA MARIE YOUNG , aged 21 of Nanaimo, BC, Missing since June 30 2002.

Lisa had been out at a Nanaimo night club, and was later seen riding in a late 1980s burgundy Jaguar.

Police suspect foul play. [B]UNSOLVED

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MURDERED

Chasidy Whitford[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B]

CHASIDY WHITFORD, aged 2., was killed by her father just weeks before her second birthday.

Her little body was found in a shallow grave during the weekend of September 21, 2002 on the Lakahahmen Reserve, in British Columbia. Prior to her death, the child was in the care of her father.
Just weeks before she died, Chassidy showed up at hospital cut and badly bruised.

On July 8, 2002 the child came to the attention of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and Xyolhemeylh, the delegated Sto:lo aboriginal and family services agency, through a child protection report. This resulted in a child protection investigation. The child and her father were subjects of ongoing protective family service from Xyolhemeylh at the time of the child's death.

The government report says that should have been a red flag to front-line social workers.

But Xlolhemeylh, the native-run child protection agency for the Sto:lo Nation, gave the child back to her father just four days later.

The report by the Children's Ministry says there was a failure by Xlolhemeylh to recognize the risk factors, noting there was no risk assessment or risk reduction plan.

"We have to look at specific training for the individuals involved, take a look at the training that's provided in the agency and make sure that procedures that we've established actually do work," says ministry spokesperson Jeremy Berland.

The review makes a total of 14 recommendations, which the Sto:lo Nation has agreed to implement. So far two people have resigned from Xlolhemeylh following the review.

But Chief Susan McKamey of the Lakahahmen First Nation says it's not just the agency's fault, saying members of the community who knew Chassidy was being abused should have spoken up.

"If your friend or your family member is doing something wrong, then it's the child you need to protect and not that adult. So we have to encourage people to understand they cannot cover up," she says.

Following a criminal investigation into the child's death, the child's father, Shawn Mackinaw. was charged with manslaughter, indignity to human remains and assault causing bodily harm. On October 27, 2003 he entered a guilty plea to criminal negligence causing death, assault causing bodily harm and indignity to human remains. He has been referred for psychiatric examination prior to sentencing. The type of sentencing is to be determined January 30, 2004.


[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B]
MISSING

Michelle Gurney
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MICHELLE GURNEY , aged 19. DOB Feb. 11,1969. 5 foot 4 inches (162 cm), 100 pounds (45.4 kg), long black hair, brown eyes. Michelle is a known drug addict and sex trade worker in the downtown east side Vancouver. Last seen December 1998. [B]UNSOLVED

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MISSING

Janet Henry
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B]
JANET HENRY , aged 37. Janet is 5 foot 3 inches (160cm),115 pounds (50kg), brown hair, brown eyes, glasses.
Born in 1961, Janet is the youngest. Her sister Donna who worries and weeps for her today, is the oldest of the thirteen children of this Namgis family from Kwaguilth Nation, Alert Bay, BC. They grew up in Kingcome Inlet on northern Vancouver Island but for a variety of reasons, most were attracted to the cities.
For all too many painful years, the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia has been home to dozens of Aboriginal women whose spirits got lost somewhere along the way and whose lives were consumed by drugs and prostitution.
Despite her life on the streets, Janet stayed in touch with her family. What prompted Donna Joseph to believe her "baby sister" had disappeared was her sudden silence.
"She always stayed in contact with my other younger sister Sandra Gagnon . . . and if it wasn't with Sandra, it was with my baby brother Lance who also lived in Vancouver," said Donna Joseph in an interview with Turtle Island Native Network.
In the summer of 1997 there were no more phone calls. Donna said that after three days the family know something was wrong, "She never ever did not call on a daily basis." It was then Donna Joseph started to learn more about her sister's lifestyle, "tylenol shooting and from that she became addicted to heroin and whatever other drugs were out there." When she went missing, Donna's sister Sandra who had been able to previously protect the family from some sordid details, revealed that Jan was 'on the street' to support her drug habit.
But Donna Joseph, a Native courtworker in Victoria, is one of those growing number of Aboriginal women you meet nowadays --- gentle, warm and caring but also strong and solid as a rock. She says "I feel really blessed that I'm receptive to all nations and the tools that come from them for my strength and spiritual maintenance."
[B]UNSOLVED



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MURDERED

Fabian Manley Paquette aka "FAYE Paquette[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B]

FABIAN MANLEY PAQUETTE, aka FAYE PAQUETTE, aged 42, transgendered woman, beaten to death on Feb. 4, 2002.
She worked as a prostitute in Prince George, BC. Her body was found February 5 stuffed into the back of a cube van in the parking lot of B.C. Alignment on First Avenue.
Dale William Eliason had spent the previous day drinking before picking up Paquette, who he thought was a female prostitute, and taking her back to the shop. The fatal fight began, according to Eliason, when he realized Paquette had breasts and a penis.
Paquette died as a result of a severe blow to the back of the head, likely when it came in contact with the cement floor.
Dale William Eliason was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
To read the trial report click HERE

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[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B]MISSING

Danielle Larue

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B]DANIELLE LARUE aged 25 is missing from downtown Eastside Vancouver, where she works as a prostitute.
A tipster called police in January, 2003, and alerted them that a woman had been missing since the beginning of December, 2002. The caller did not name the woman.
Investigators later discovered Larue's identity and suspect foul play may be involved. Police spokeswoman Sarah Bloor won't reveal further details about the tip since it's an ongoing investigation.
"We're hopeful someone can come forward with information about Danielle. She hasn't had any contact with family or friends since December and that's why we suspect foul play," Bloor said.
Officers aren't ruling out the possibility that Larue, a native woman from the Interior, has simply moved. Family members did not call police to report Larue missing.
The known drug addict was involved in the sex trade before she went missing, working in the Downtown Eastside since at least November.
Contact between Larue and family members has been "off and on" according to Bloor, and it's been some time since they've been in touch, which is not typical behaviour.
"We were hoping we would have additional contact by the person that originally alerted us but that hasn't happened-that's why we're coming forward," Bloor said. "Perhaps someone has seen Danielle or Danielle herself will call us if she's not in harm's way."
Larue is five-feet-seven-inches tall, weighs 125 pounds, has a light complexion, long black hair, brown eyes and several tattoos, including a black heart and cross on her forearm and a heart on her chest.
A dedicated phone line for the case has been set up at 604-717-3420. Information left on it will remain confidential.
[B]UNSOLVED

[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B] [B][B][B][B][B][B][B]

MISSING

Stephanie Lane
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B]
STEPHANIE LANE , aged 20. Black/First Nations female, 5 foot 4 inches (162 cm),115 pounds (51 kg), long black wavy hair, brown eyes. Stephanie is a known drug user and sex trade worker in the area of the Patricia Hotel, downtown eastside Vancouver. Reported missing January 1997. [...