ST. ANTHONY, NL – While Jennifer Hillier-Penney’s whereabouts remain a mystery, Insp. Bruce Singer of the RCMP’s major crime unit in Corner Brook says his team have been working diligently to find the answers to her disappearance.
Coming up on the one-year anniversary of their investigation, Singer agreed to speak to the Northern Pen on the investigation.
“We are actively investigating this each and every day for the last year,” Singer said. “We’ve spent a lot of time coming up to the Northern Peninsula, and quite often people may not know that we are in the area.”
Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, when pressed on specifics of where they are with the case, Singer was not inclined to give any details.
Singer also declined to comment on a criticism noted early on in the investigation, around the claim that Dean Penney, Hillier-Penney’s estranged husband, had not had his house quarantined by police before forensics arrived.
“I can’t discuss the specifics because I don’t want to damage any of the integrity of the investigation. It wouldn’t be fair to the investigators or the family,” said Singer.
In the small rural pockets of the Great Northern Peninsula, rumours, speculation and hearsay surrounding the disappearance has been plentiful.
Singer’s focus was the urgent need for people with any information they’ve heard surrounding Hillier-Penney’s disappearance to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
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“What we really wanted to focus on this week is how many people talk about things and don’t come to the police,” he said.
“You never know what a little piece of information can do. Whether its first-hand, second-hand or third-hand, we take it and put into the data set, and we either try to make it reliable or not reliable.
“It helps us build the whole story and the whole picture around Jennifer. We owe it to Jennifer, and we owe it to the Jennifer’s family, to do that.”
Still, Singer says the community has been extremely helpful thus far in helping the RCMP in their investigation. They currently have over 100 witness statements taken, and Singer says he has been grateful for all the outreach and input from the public.
As the investigation has gone on, Singer says he has gotten to learn a lot about Hillier-Penney through her family and those who knew her. He hopes the investigation can continue to move closer to uncovering the truth around her disappearance and finally bring peace and closure to a community desperate for answers.
“From everything I’ve been told, she’s an amazing woman – a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend,” said Singer. “I can only imagine what the family is possibly going through and thinking. It’s our job to get information for this amazing family.”
Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to contact the RCMP’s major crime unit at 709-637-4420. Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers.
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