Jessica Rae Newman's mother says her body was found near Airdrie
The body of a Calgary woman who has been missing for nearly two months was found near Airdrie, according to her mother.
RCMP were initially on scene following the discovery Monday afternoon, but now that the body is believed to be that of Jessica Newman, Calgary police are leading the investigation.
"I thought I had prepared myself," said Rhonda Stewart from her home in Quesnel, B.C. today.
Stewart said police contacted her as soon as the body was discovered.
Newman, 24, was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on March 10 in the Forest Lawn area of southeast Calgary.
Investigators are waiting for official confirmation of her identity from the medical examiner. An autopsy began Tuesday but is not expected to be completed until Wednesday when police say they will provide an update.
The discovery was made by a work crew in a remote rural area at about 4 p.m. on Monday, police say.
"Within a couple of hours, our local police came to our house," said Rhonda Stewart. "At this point at least we know that she's not suffering and she's not being held and hurt or tortured."
Stewart says she plans to travel to Calgary soon, but her husband has been diagnosed with brain cancer and she needs to make plans to accommodate his medical needs.
Last month, a detective with the Calgary police major crimes unit issued a public request for anyone who had knowledge of Newman's whereabouts to come forward.
"Jessica's case is not going away," Det. Dave Sweet wrote. "My best advice to you is to do what is right and contact police."
