Police search for clues
Published Wednesday November 4th, 2009
RCMP execute search warrant at home near scene of last known sighting of Hilary Bonnell
ESGENOOPETITJ - Just two houses down from the convenience store where Hilary Bonnell was last seen nearly two months ago, a swarm of RCMP investigators and forensic specialists combed through a property yesterday.
Hilary, 16, has been missing since the morning of Sept. 5 after attending an all-night house party in Esgenoopetitj First Nation, more commonly known as Burnt Church, with her last confirmed sighting recorded on surveillance footage that morning at 4D's convenience store, located on Highway 11 in the community.
District 8 RCMP Insp. Roch Fortin wouldn't confirm late last night if the search warrant executed on the residence yesterday has anything to do with the missing teen, but did say the investigation on the home is criminal in nature and will last at least a few more days.
Fortin said no arrests have been made and nobody is being detained at this time.
A crowd of over 100 curious onlookers, including Hilary's mother Pamela Fillier, gathered in the 4D's parking lot trying to figure out what exactly they were witnessing.
A physically and emotionally drained Fillier has been up and down the Acadian Coast chasing leads for an agonizing eight weeks without much success.
But she said watching investigators search every nook and cranny of that residence brought her a sense of relief she hasn't experienced in quite some time.
"I feel like I can breathe again, I feel like maybe, okay, maybe we're getting closer," she said.
"I will search for my baby until I collapse and I'm going to find my little girl no matter what," she said.
"They picked the wrong kid to mess with because now they're messing with me. There's just no time for tears because I'm determined to find my baby.
"I'll only stop when my little girl is back in my arms. It takes every piece of strength inside of me to hold myself back, and you don't mess with my children."
Denise Parker, a cousin of Hilary's and creator of a 21,000-member Facebook group dedicated to the missing girl, said it's a relief to be able to witness some concrete signs of progress in the investigation.
Parker said the community is keeping its emotions in check while police conduct their investigation, but added people will be keeping a close eye on the home throughout this process.
"Police are doing a wonderful job right now and we're very proud of what we see right now," she said.
"They've really stepped up to the plate here."
Fortin said he and other RCMP officials sat down with Esgenoopetitj Chief Wilbur Dedam and the rest of council yesterday afternoon to explain the purpose behind the search warrant.
He said the band fully supports the investigation.
Dedam, meanwhile, elected not to say too much about what RCMP told him during the meeting but did point out it was still too soon to begin pointing fingers at anybody.
Bonnell is five-feet-five-inches tall and weighs about 134 pounds.
She is aboriginal and has long black hair and dark brown eyes.
She was last seen wearing a black sweater, purple T-shirt, blue jean shorts as well as flip-flops.
A combined reward of close to $18,000 is being offered by the band and New Brunswick Crime Stoppers for information leading to Hilary's safe return.
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