RCMP announced Sunday morning it is working with the B.C. Coroners Service to identify human remains found in the Smithers area in Northern British Columbia.
RCMP spokeswoman Madonna Saunderson said she had no further information, such as where the discovery was made, how many investigators were at the scene, or whether it was linked to Jessica Balczer, an 18-year-old woman who was reported missing in early September. Corporal Saunderson said the RCMP decided to put out the press release after there were posts on Facebook about the discovery.
Candace Garcia, who knew Ms. Balczer well, said the remains were discovered on Saturday on the road up to the local ski area. She said that Ms. Balczer’s family has been told by police that the remains were those of the missing woman.
“Jessica was an amazing, beautiful person, inside and out,” Ms. Garcia said. “She was very kind to everybody.”
Ms. Balczer was reporting missing on Sept. 3, according to a Smithers RCMP press release issued three days later on Sept. 6. The RCMP said Ms. Balczer is a member of the Lake Babine First Nation, located southeast of Smithers.
RCMP said Ms. Balczer had departed the Mountain View Motel in Smithers early on the morning of Aug. 31. The motel is just off Highway 16 – known as the Highway of Tears – on the north end of town. RCMP said there were subsequent unconfirmed sightings of Ms. Balczer.
Community members had planned a gathering to remember Ms. Balczer on Sunday afternoon in Smithers. Ms. Garcia said she hoped it would give strength to Ms. Balczer’s family and bring additional awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.
“It’s devastating,” she said.
David Ebner