I'm not quite sure this is connected to Highway of Tears. Although it was Rene and Krystle's plan to hitch-hike, we don't know for a fact that they did. They were last known to be at West Edmonton Mall on Feb 18, 2005, and I would be more inclined to think they may have disappeared directly from the mall, like Nina Courtepatte.
On April 3,2006, six weeks after Rene and Krystle went missing, 13 y.o. Nina also disappeared from West Edmonton Mall. She was found murdered at Edmonton Springs Golf Course, 30 km west of downtown Edmonton.
I strongly feel that the disappearance of Rene and Krystle are related to Nina's disappearance and murder. Here are my old general notes regarding Nina that may or may not relate to the disappearance of Rene and Krystle:
Nina was beaten to death on golf course; Michael Erin Briscoe, 36, gf "Cindy"; Joseph Wesley Laboucan 22, young offender nicked "Pyro" and his gf "Buffy". Buffy says Laboucan apparently bragged about being involved in prostitute's death and supposedly showed co-accused "Buffy" a severed finger he had in a freezer from a previous victim; police had asked Buffy if she had any dealings with men who went by the names Ace, Toothless Jay, Tran and Lorenzo; Pyro pled guilty in Nina's murder; Joseph Laboucan was found guilty of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and first degree murder; Michael Briscoe was acquitted; Stephanie Bird was found guilty of manslaughter; Laboucan claimed in court that he was a debt collector for the Triads and the Hells. Briscoe and Laboucan were subsequently charged with the murder of prostitute Ellie May Meyer who disappeared April 1, 2005, found in Strathcona County east of Edmonton May 6, 2005.
FWIW, one name that stands out to me as a common denominator is Naomi Lynn Ratcliffe who was the last person known to have heard from Rene Gunning and Krystle Knott after they visited West Edmonton Mall. Naomi is also quoted as knowing Joseph Laboucan.
I can't help but wonder if Rene and Krystle are the "two women" that Laboucan referred to in his first police interview:
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...3-bcf83f40876e