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Mary Jane Hill, 31, of Nisga'a First Nation
Mary's naked body was found along Highway 16, the Highway of Tears, between Prince Rupert and Prince George, on March 26th, 1978.
A week after the discovery of her remains, a pathologist determined that Mary died from exposure. However, at the same time, the RCMP were appealing to the public for more information and a Sgt. Bernie Mason stated that there was indication of a crime and that other people were involved:
(Archive of newspaper clippings)
A later inquest would come to the conclusion that Mary Hill passed away from "bronchitis and bronchopneumonia", but later in the same report it is stated as an addition, "We then find that the death of Mary Jane Hill as a result of manslaughter."
There was semen found on her body and her clothes were dumped in an alleyway 33 km away in Prince Rupert, according to a coroner's report obtained by her daughter, Vicki Hill. Vicki has said the authorities have not been forthcoming with information about her mother's case and she even had difficulties finding the death certificate and the location of her mother's unmarked grave.
No one has ever been charged in Mary Jane Hill's suspicious death. Those involved in the RCMP Project E-Pana, which investigates and reviews Highway of Tears murders, determined that Mary Jane Hill's case was not a candidate for the official Highway of Tears cases list, and her case is not being actively investigated.
If you have any information regarding the homicide of Mary Jane Hill, please contact one of the following:
- The Prince Rupert RCMP at 250–624–2136
- Crime Stoppers at 1–800–222–8477 (TIPS)
Vancouver Sun: "Daughter searches for answers in mother's 1978 murder | Vicki Hill was just six months old when her mother was found dead along Highway 16. Thirty years later, the case remains unsolved. Vicki, now 32, is trying to piece together what she can about the mother she never knew" - Lori Culbert - published 13 December 2009
Global News: "Sobbing women demand justice at inquiry into missing women forums in northern BC" - published 12 September 2011
The Globe and Mail: "Missing and murdered Indigenous women inquiry hears stories of loss at first B.C. hearing" = Laura Kane - published 26 September 2017
Goldstream Gazette: "Stories of loss, pain heard at missing and murdered Indigenous women inquiry" = Marisca Bakker - published 27 September 2017
CBC Missing & Murdered : "Unresolved: Mary Jane Hill" - Holly Moore - 18 July 2018:
CBC needs you
Do you have information on an unsolved case involving missing or murdered indigenous women or girls?Contact us by email at
[email protected]
or contact us anonymously via
SecureDrop
Justice for Native People: "Mary Hill, Unsolved Murder from British Columbia in 1978" - posted 11 September 2019 by Mak
Tears to Hope - She is Somebody: Mary Jane Hill:
Mentions:
Hue and Cry: "Highway of Tears"
Dying Words: "IS A SERIAL KILLER LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY OF TEARS?" - Gerry Rodgers - Retired RCMP Homicide Detective and Forensic Coroner - 24 August 2019
Cold Case PG: "The Highway of Tears and Beyond" - Timeline of Victims
