(CBS) How did the Royal Canadian Mounted Police working on the Highway of Tears cases in British Columbia uncover an American serial killer who may well turn out to be a hidden Ted Bundy?
It's all because Canadian investigators preserved a DNA sample at a time when most police departments had no idea what DNA was and how important it would later become in solving crimes.
The story begins in the summer of when year-old Colleen MacMillen, who lived in the remote town of Mile House in British Columbia, Canada, told her little brother Shawn that she was going out with friends.
"She just said, 'Don't tell mom I'm hitchhiking,' and she walked away," Shawn told CBS News Correspondent Peter Van Sant.
One month later, her body was found about 30 miles from the family home. For Colleen's two younger brothers, Shawn and Keven, and their family, it was an unspeakable tragedy.
"It's a lifelong disaster is what it is," Kevin said. "It was sad the day it happened and we're sad today and we'll be sad till the day we die."
Colleen became another victim along Canada's Highway of Tears, officially Highway 16 which cuts across British Columbia and is a major east-west road used by truckers
The Highway of Tears: Canada’s Killing Fields
Indeed, indigenous communities in Canada have higher than average levels of poverty, alcoholism, and substance abuse compared to the rest of Canadian towns and cities. Carolyn Bennett, the minister of indigenous and northern affairs, says that the families of the murdered and missing women believe that the police treat their loved ones’ deaths “as inevitable, as if their lives mattered less.”
Related: 20 Unsolved Murders That Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine
British Columbia’s government plans to improve safety along Highway 16 by installing safety cameras and giving indigenous communities funding for vehicles. Right now the remote communities along Highway 16 have very little lighting on the road, and the only public transportation available is infrequent Greyhound buses.
In October, CBC Radio One’s The Current released a virtual reality documentary called . The documentary focuses on the case of Ramona Wilson, a year-old girl from Smithers, British Columbia, who disappeared on her way to a nearby town in Wilson’s body was found the following year, but, like many others along Highway 16, her murder remains unsolve
The Highway of Tears: The Road Where Women Disappear
Snaking through the Canadian wilds between the cities of Prince Rupert and Prince George, the road known as Highway 16 crosses British Columbia, the westernmost Canadian territory, as it travels from the mountainous interior to the coast.
In all this road stretches for almost miles ( km) across Canadian territory, and it has become famous for an apparent macabre truth: for at least 50 years, women have been disappearing along this road. Highway 16 is also known as the Highway of Tears.
Although official sources suggest that the number of victims is around 20, the actual number could easily be twice that, and some estimates suggest that as many as women may have been killed. The highway covers a major industrial route from Prince Rupert to the city of Prince George in British Columbia, and a lot of people use the road.
The remains of many victims have been discovered, while many other cases of missing women remain unsolved even to this day. Many of the victims of the Highway of Tears are indigenous women and girls. What is happening on this stretch of road, and who is killing these women?
What is the Highway of Te
The terrible story of Canada’s Highway of Tears
The story goes way back in Canada with the poor treatment of the indigenous population by the authorities, just like in Australia or the USA.
years ago residential schools were set up in Canada with mandatory attendance for all 7 to year-olds. Around 80, children were forcibly removed from families, homes, and communities to assimilate aboriginal youth into mainstream "Canadian Culture". Allegedly, they were abused, badly fed, and housed. The kids were allowed no contact with family, nor allowed to practice any part of their culture.
In , the Canadian government finally issued an official apology, but it was arguably many years too late. The whole episode was a real blight on Canada and its administrators.
The interesting thing is the residential homes and the Highway of Tears are linked. The RCMP were the people who took children away and were the truant officers when kids ran away. So, there is an intrinsic mistrust by the First Nations of the police, with fear of retaliation.
Many people from poorer communities in British Columbia don't have vehicles and have relied on hitchhiking as essential services like hospi
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The terrible story of Canada’s Highway of Tears
The story goes way back in Canada with the poor treatment of the indigenous population by the authorities, just like in Australia or the USA.
years ago residential schools were set up in Canada with mandatory attendance for all 7 to year-olds. Around 80, children were forcibly removed from families, homes, and communities to assimilate aboriginal youth into mainstream "Canadian Culture". Allegedly, they were abused, badly fed, and housed. The kids were allowed no contact with family, nor allowed to practice any part of their culture.
In , the Canadian government finally issued an official apology, but it was arguably many years too late. The whole episode was a real blight on Canada and its administrators.
The interesting thing is the residential homes and the Highway of Tears are linked. The RCMP were the people who took children away and were the truant officers when kids ran away. So, there is an intrinsic mistrust by the First Nations of the police, with fear of retaliation.
Many people from poorer communities in British Columbia don't have vehicles and have relied on hitchhiking as essential services like hospi
Biographies you may also like
Mahendra singh dhoni biography profile worksheet This document provides biographical information about Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian cricket captain. It details his career highlights including leading India to victory in the .
Chef graham kerr pours wine out Graham Kerr, better known as The Galloping Gourmet, was one of the earliest on-air food personalities, and is still captivating audiences today — just in different ways. Famous .
Short biography of br ambedkar ou Dr BR Ambedkar. Dr BR Ambedkar was born on April 14, , in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, into a Dalit Mahar family, which faced severe social discrimination due to the rigid .
Meshach radebe biography of mahatma gandhi Mahatma Gandhi () was the leader of India's non-violent independence movement against British colonial rule. Born in Porbandar, India, Gandhi studied law and .
Nutella njubigbo nigerian actress biography Nuella Njubigbo began her professional career in the Nigerian film industry, also known as Nollywood, when she was 15 years old. Her first film was “Royal Destiny,” which went on to .
Chuck norris biography for kids Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris, born on March 10, , in Ryan, Oklahoma, is a renowned American martial artist, actor, film producer, and author. He gained fame for his .
Aminu ladan ala biography of michaels Stream SARKIN BICHI NASIR ADO 1 song from AMINU ALA. Producer: Aminu Ala. Album: ZAKIN GIDAN DABO. Release Date: August 4,