Body of missing Mission teen found
Posted March 20, 2013 2:50 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mission (NEWS1130) – A sad end to a search for a missing Mission teen.
Homicide investigators say the body of Rachel Pernosky has been found and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is taking over the file.
The 18-year-old hadn’t been seen or heard from since Saturday, just after midnight, near her home on Kite Street. This was especially suspicious because of how active she was known to be on social media.
IHIT became involved in the search for Pernosky on March 18.
Yesterday, a person called the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Department and reported seeing a body down an embankment off Old Orchard Road.
Search and Rescue had to be called in to retrieve the body because of the steep terrain.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
Sgt. Jennifer Pound with IHIT says the victim’s family is trying to deal with this tragedy as best they can.
“Rachel was just 18 years old and a mother of a baby when her life was brutally taken from her. The person(s) who murdered her have left a hole in the lives of those who loved her and child who will be without his Mom,” she says.
Mission Mayor Ted Adlem says the community is devastated.
“A lot of folks know this young lady from school, the younger folks. It’s a sad, sad time for us.”
Adlem says crimes like this are rare in the small town.
“We pull together when something like this happens in the district of Mission. It’s a very close knit community when there’s a tragedy like this, and it’s a good thing for our community.”
For that reason, Adlem is not surprised to hear a candlelight vigil has already been planned for 7 p.m. tomorrow at Mission’s Heritage Park.
He says Rachel Pernosky was popular in the community, and it’s deeply affected a lot of people.
Meanwhile, a Facebook page first dedicated to finding Rachel when she was missing has now turned into a stream of posts in her memory. Her sister, Brittany, is asking people to take down any missing persons posters they can find.
A PayPal account has also been set up, accepting donations for the Pernosky family.
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT tipline at 778-290-5290 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
