The physique of a girl found at a relaxation cease on Freeway 7 close to Rockwood in 2005 has been recognized as a girl who went lacking in British Columbia
ROCKWOOD – After virtually 20 years of thriller, the OPP has recognized the physique of a girl found at a relaxation cease in Rockwood in 2005.
Confirmed to be Tammy Eileen Penner of Chilliwack, BC, a Friday information launch from the OPP mentioned they used investigative genetic family tree (IGG) to find out Penner’s id.
She was reported lacking to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Feb. 7, 2005.
A presumptive identification was established in April 2024 and used to find dwelling relations, whose DNA was used to verify Penner’s id.
Forty-one years outdated and dwelling in Chilliwack and Abbotsford, BC, earlier than she disappeared, investigators say they imagine somebody had contact along with her throughout her journey from British Columbia to Ontario, the place her physique was found at a relaxation cease on Freeway 7 between Guelph and Rockwood on Aug. 28, 2005.
“Because of ongoing investigative efforts, together with using investigative genetic family tree, the OPP has been capable of establish Tammy after so a few years,” mentioned OPP detective inspector Randy Gaynor within the launch. “There’s extra to be carried out – Tammy’s household is determined to search out out the circumstances that led to her loss of life. If you already know something, please contact police to assist present decision to her family members.”
The discharge additionally thanks the efforts of the Rockwood Knights of Columbus, who created a memorial for Penner in 2008, and the “compassion and dedication” of people like Acton resident Keith Porty who has maintained the memorial since 2019.
In an emailed assertion to GuelphToday, Porty mentioned though he had “all the time hoped” the Rockwood Jane Doe would sometime be recognized, as time went on “it appeared like extra of an extended shot.”
“I hope her household and pals can now discover some closure, almost 20 years after she went lacking,” mentioned Porty, who was lately contacted by Gaynor to cross on thanks from the household for his ongoing dedication to the memorial.
Penner’s physique was initially found in a wooded space at a relaxation cease on Freeway 7 on August 28, 2005 the place she was believed to have been dragged a brief distance and coated with a Woods model sleeping bag one month earlier than the stays had been discovered.
Roughly 5-feet-6 inches tall with gentle brown hair and weighing about 130 kilos, no private identification for Penner was ever discovered.
Penner’s post-mortem revealed no latest accidents however she did have previous accidents to her face within the type of a damaged left cheek, nostril and left eye socket and would’ve left her with a visual facial deformity. Penner was believed to have misplaced two higher enamel on the left entrance because of the accidents and wore a two-tooth partial plate.
Renewing their name for help within the case in 2018, the OPP investigators imagine the circumstances surrounding her loss of life are suspicious and contemplate foul play was concerned.
Anybody with info in relation to this investigation is inspired to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
Isabel Buckmaster is the for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
