The “Highway of Tears” refers to a 725-kilometer stretch of Highway 16 in British Columbia, Canada, running from Prince George to Prince Rupert. This highway has gained notoriety due to the high number of Indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered along this route since 1970.
The name “Highway of Tears” was coined during a 1998 vigil held in Terrace, British Columbia, to raise awareness about the tragic disappearances and murders. It reflects the sorrow and grief experienced by the families and communities affected by these unsolved cases. The highway cuts through remote and rural areas, which makes it a perilous route for travellers, especially for Indigenous women, who are often disproportionately affected by violence and systemic neglect.
How Many Victims Have There Been?
The exact number of victims associated with the Highway of Tears remains unclear, with estimates varying depending on the sources and criteria used to define the cases. Officially, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) acknowledges 18 women who have disappeared or been murdered along this corridor since 1969. However, Indigenous organizations and advocacy groups believe the number is much higher, suggesting that over 40 women and girls may have fallen victim to violence along this highway.
Who Are Some of the Known Victims?
Among the victims was Alberta Williams, a vibrant 24-year-old woman who vanished one warm August night in 1989. She had been enjoying an evening out in Prince Rupert, a small coastal city. Weeks later, her lifeless body was found hidden in the dense wilderness east of the city, her dreams and future brutally erased. Despite renewed interest sparked by a detailed CBC podcast investigation, Alberta’s case remains shrouded in mystery, a painful emblem of the ongoing crisis.
In the summer of 1994, 16-year-old Ramona Wilson left her home in Smithers with typical plans for any teenager. She was last seen hitchhiking, a common mode of travel in this remote region where public transport options are scant. Months later, her remains were discovered near the Smithers airport, buried in the underbrush close to Highway 16. The discovery shattered her community and left her family grappling with endless grief and unanswered questions. Ramona’s unsolved murder underscores the endemic risks Indigenous women face, especially in isolated areas.
Then there’s Nicole Hoar, a 25-year-old tree planter from Alberta who went missing in June 2002. Nicole was taking a break from her arduous work to visit a friend in Smithers. She was last seen hitchhiking near the outskirts of Prince George’s, hoping for a ride that would bring her closer to her destination. Nicole’s disappearance attracted widespread media attention, partly because she was one of the few non-Indigenous victims. Despite the intense search efforts, she remains missing, her fate unknown, adding another layer of sorrow to the already tragic tapestry of the Highway of Tears.
These women, like many others, were full of life and hope, their stories brutally cut short along this lonely, perilous road. Their disappearances and murders reflect a broader systemic failure to protect vulnerable populations, a legacy of neglect and prejudice that continues to haunt the communities along Highway 16. The Highway of Tears remains a symbol of unresolved pain, where the silence of the wilderness echoes the cries for justice from the families left behind.
Who Is Behind The Murders?
One theory posits that a serial killer, or perhaps multiple serial killers, could be preying on vulnerable women travelling the highway. The isolated and rural nature of the region provides an ideal hunting ground for such predators, with its vast, unmonitored expanses making it easier to commit and conceal heinous crimes. This theory gained some credence in the early 2000s when serial killer Bobby Jack Fowler, already convicted in the United States, was linked through DNA evidence to the 1974 murder of a young woman in British Columbia. Yet, despite this connection, many other cases remain unresolved, leaving the possibility of other serial killers lurking in the shadows.
Another theory delves into the socio-economic conditions of the area. Many of the women who disappeared or were murdered came from Indigenous communities, often facing systemic racism, poverty, and limited access to resources. Hitchhiking became a necessity for those without reliable transportation, making them easy targets. The endemic neglect by authorities, who historically failed to prioritize the cases of missing Indigenous women, only compounds this theory. The lack of prompt and thorough investigations has left many of these cases cold, perpetuating a cycle of violence and injustice.
Some suggest a more complex web of violence involving local opportunists. These criminals might take advantage of the transient and vulnerable nature of the highway’s travellers. The possibility of involvement by truck drivers, who traverse these remote routes regularly and can disappear without a trace, is also considered. Their mobility and anonymity make them potential suspects in the predation of hitchhikers.
A chilling dimension to the mystery is the potential involvement of organized crime. Drug trafficking and other illicit activities are known to plague the region, and it’s conceivable that some of the disappearances could be linked to these underground networks. Women might have witnessed something they shouldn’t have or been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, leading to their tragic fates.
Finally, the vast wilderness itself cannot be overlooked. The dense forests and rugged terrain offer countless hiding places, making it easy for perpetrators to dispose of evidence and bodies. This daunting geography has hindered search efforts and allowed many cases to languish in obscurity.
The Highway of Tears remains an enigmatic and terrifying expanse, where the intersection of serial predation, socio-economic marginalization, opportunistic violence, and the cruel indifference of nature have created a perfect storm of tragedy. Each theory, while plausible, only adds to the labyrinthine puzzle, leaving families and communities grasping for closure amid a sea of sorrow and unanswered questions.
