ST. ANTHONY, N.L. — Rocks painted in memory of Jennifer Hillier-Penney are evidence how much the St. Anthony, NL, woman is beloved and missed nearly three years since her disappearance.
Over 40 rocks have been painted and placed beneath a missing sign for Hillier-Penney at Fishing Point Park in St. Anthony.
Many of the rocks are painted in Hillier-Penney’s memory or request “Justice for Jennifer”.
Walking around the park, or just driving by, it’s hard not to miss the bright and colourful rocks, adorned with butterflies, flowers and rainbows.
Hillier-Penney went missing on Nov. 30, 2016 and hasn’t been seen since.
Her disappearance has been deemed suspicious by RCMP.
Hillier-Penney’s niece, LeAnn Davis, came up with the idea to paint a few rocks in her memory about a month ago.
“I knew that everybody was painting rocks and I just put it out there (on the St. Anthony and Area “Rocks” Facebook group page) wondering if anybody could paint a memory rock,” she told The Northern Pen.
She and her husband, Jordan, decided to place them at Fishing Point Park underneath the sign.
The few Davis painted herself, which called for justice for Hillier-Penney, were removed and haven’t been returned.
Painting and hiding rocks at various outdoors locales around town is a popular activity for local children.
The idea is when you find a rock, you re-hide it somewhere else.
It is possible whoever found Davis’ rocks just followed that routine.
Later, the local librarian, Josalyn Elliott, who also runs the local rocks group Facebook page, placed a rock there asking people not to move them.
They, too, were removed.
Elliott then issued a message on Facebook to let people know the rocks were there for Hillier-Penney and were not to be removed.
Since then, the number of rocks painted in Hillier-Penney’s memory has grown.
When Davis met with The Northern Pen for an interview at Fishing Point Park, she was surprised to see just how many had been painted.
“I didn’t realize I would get this much,” she said.
Davis has no idea who or how many people have painted rocks.
But she was touched to see just how much people still care about her aunt and are trying to keep her memory alive.
“Nobody forgets,” she said.
Davis has been committed to keeping her aunt’s name out there.
Last year, she had 300 missing person car magnets made and has been selling them so people are constantly seeing Hillier-Penney’s name and face on vehicles throughout the area.
“She’s definitely not forgotten and we’re not giving up until we know where she is,” she said.
Davis welcomes people to continue painting the memorial rocks.
“Anybody is welcome to continue putting these positive words and quotes and pictures — she loved butterflies,” she said. “It’s nice to see that stuff.”
She says the family still believes someone out there has information about what happened to Hillier-Penney and implores them to come forward.
Anyone with information as to what happened to Hillier-Penney can contact Newfoundland and Labrador CrimeStoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477)
