Missing woman case brings back horrible memories for St. Anthony mother
'It puts me right back to when we were going through the same thing,' says Darlene Pearce
Darlene Pearce is trying to get ready for Christmas in St. Anthony, but all she can think about is her missing son, Andrew Sexton, who disappeared without a trace 10 years ago — and how another person from the community has also disappeared.
If you give up hoping, then you really give up everything then.- Darlene Pearce
"Don't give up hope. It's too soon," is the advice Pearce offered to the family of Jennifer Hillier-Penney, who was reported missing Dec. 1.
"Just keep searching, keep looking. Keep your eye out, keep asking questions."
News of Hillier-Penney's disappearance brought back horrible memories for Pearce.
"It puts me right back to when we were going through the same thing ... It's the same feeling all over again."
Andrew Sexton, 21, went snowmobiling with his friends near Goose Cove and never returned. His mother said the search for him a decade ago, and the search for Hillier-Penney are very much the same.
"There's definitely similarities. The fact that there is no trace of her. There is no evidence showing what happened or where she went. The fact that it's again in the winter which makes it really really hard to search," she said.
Wouldn't just take off
Police have finished the search on air, water and land for Hillier-Penney. She was last seen at her estranged husband's home on Nov. 30. RCMP say the investigation is still open, but there is no sign of her.
"She's a very nice person. Very likable," said Pearce.
"I really can't say anything bad or negative about her. Everybody liked her. I just can't see her taking off. I can't see that. To me, it is suspicious. I'm quite sure that everybody feels the same way," she said.
Although police have completed the search, Pearce believes they could still be doing a lot behind the scenes. The police kept in touch with her for several years after her son went missing.
More unsolved cases
Over the past 15 years, two others have disappeared from the northern community.
In April 2002, Mildred Sexton went for a walk and never came back. The police confirmed she had some mental health issues and believed she didn't have medication with her. Searchers think she went through the ice.
In April 2011, Cleon Smith went for a walk and hasn't been seen since. Searchers used a sonar device to look for him in the harbour and found nothing.
Pearce does not believe the four missing cases are related. The RCMP do not see a connection either.
Holding on to hope
Ten years after her son's disappearance, Pearce refuses to stop believing that case will be solved.
"I still think that some day, we still might find some information or some evidence. If you give up hoping, then you really give up everything then. It's very hard to grasp," she said.
Pearce and her family now live in Port aux Basques, but planned on returning to St. Anthony for Christmas.
She was looking forward to it at first. With Hillier-Penney still missing, and the memories that brings up for her, she is uncertain it will be a joyful time.
"I hope there is a better outcome this time," she said.
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