8 years after Jennifer Hillier-Penney disappeared, the search for her remains drags on
Jennifer Hillier-Penney went missing eight years ago. Her brother, Gary Hillier, says investigators are still working tirelessly to find her remains. (Submitted by Gary Hillier)
A grieving community marked the suspected murder of one St. Anthony, N.L., woman a little differently this year, turning on their porch lights rather than the usual custom: holding a vigil in her name.
For the family of Jennifer Hillier-Penney, it was needed respite amid a continuing police investigation and ongoing court proceedings for her alleged killer.
"With so much happening in the trial, in the search, we figured this year we would just take a little break from what we've been doing for the last seven years," said Gary Hillier, the woman's brother.
Hillier-Penney disappeared without a trace eight years ago, on Nov. 30, 2016.
For much of that time, the family feared her case would grow cold. But last year, the RCMP announced they'd gathered sufficient evidence for a first-degree murder charge against Hillier-Penney's estranged husband, Dean Penney.
That was the moment, for Hillier, the dark clouds began to part.
"Last year's ceremony I went to, I said, 'I can't do this. No more … these ceremonies are too hard,'" Hillier said. "We were kind of in despair, but just two weeks later it was his arrest. So everything started to change from that point on."
Gary Hillier with a memorial photo of his sister Jennifer. (Submitted by Gary Hillier)
Penney is maintaining his innocence, and entered a not guilty plea in Corner Brook Supreme Court last week. But the prospect of an upcoming trial hasn't quieted Hillier's hunger for answers.
The family was "elated" when they heard of Penney's arrest, Hillier said.
"We felt like the case wasn't moving along at all, but after … the arrest, we started getting bits and pieces of information on how they did work in the last eight years," he said.
"We were really pleased with the efforts [the major crimes unit] put into this case."
Search for remains ongoing
The RCMP hasn't stopped its underwater search for Hillier-Penney's remains. It's zeroed in on a patch of ocean near St. Anthony.
In a statement, the force confirmed its underwater recovery team was currently combing the sea floor near Hare Island alongside the Canadian Armed Forces, and would remain in the area until the search was complete.
Hillier said the search picked up again last week, and has been told divers are looking for evidence nearly 200 feet down.
"These guys are made with a different fabric. They're putting their lives at risk crawling on the bottom of the ocean, just feeling around for my sister," Hillier said. "They're using technologies that can pick up things that wasn't originally on the bottom, so we're hoping one of those could be Jennifer."
Finding her remains, he said, is at the forefront of the family's minds.
"Bringing her home now is the main thing. That's what we need," Hillier said.
"We're confident that they're going to find her and bring her back to us, to give us a bit of closure. We need to put her where she needs to be."
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