Molly Dixon never dreamed when she walked in women's memorial marches that she'd return to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»a dozen years later to search for her own daughter.
"I couldn't imagine that ever happening and it's happening," Dixon said last Thursday.
Even as the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry grabs headlines, Dixon and community workers who are helping her believe her daughter's disappearance isn't receiving sufficient police attention.
Dixon is searching for Angeline Eileen Pete, also known as Angie, a 28-year-old Gusgimukw woman most recently known to reside in North Vancouver.
Dixon last spoke to her newly engaged daughter May 19. North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»RCMP witnessed Rob Calden, her fiance, assaulting Pete, May 20. They arrested him and released him on conditions. The charges were ultimately stayed and police report Calden and Pete continued contact after this incident. Dixon says her daughter and Calden physically abused one another and that her daughter sought help for alcohol abuse.
When she initially didn't hear from her, Dixon assumed Pete had gone to work for a carnival as she had done in the past. She then reported Pete missing to North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»RCMP Aug. 8. North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»RCMP issued a missing person alert for Pete Aug. 16.
Dixon says Calden had moved and left his job as a youth worker when police checked. Dixon, who is on welfare, said the RCMP in her hometown of Prince Rupert wouldn't help her contact the North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»detachment. The Salvation Army let her make long distance calls, and her Quatsino Band near Port Hardy paid for Dixon to bus to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Oct. 2 to advance the search.
The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre found her a place to stay and provides bus tickets. Dixon wishes her husband could join her. She has been following every lead and contacted multiple organizations, including those that serve aboriginal people.
Dixon and longtime community victim services worker Carol Martin complained Oct. 20 about police not returning Dixon's calls. "I don't see much improvement and it's reflected in the lack of resources, housing, detoxes, places for women to go, especially if they're trying to leave abusive relationships, financial problems," Martin said.
North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»police committed Oct. 21 to updating Dixon and Pete's family, including her brother and grandmother who's raising Pete's seven-year-old son, in Port Hardy, weekly.
An Oct. 3 news release from North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»RCMP notes its serious crime unit is handling the investigation. Pete has an outstanding warrant for her arrest but "everybody's primary concern at this time is that Pete returns home safely," it states.
She hasn't used Facebook or her bank accounts since she disappeared. According to police, Pete may have hitchhiked and may have been spotted in cities that include Port Hardy, Kamloops and Grand Prairie, Alta. "We take all files of all missing people, regardless of gender or race, seriously," said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»RCMP spokesperson. "These files, because there are so many loose ends, we attack as many of them as we can."
Dixon wants police to find Calden.
"They were engaged, that means something. They were supposed to be married on Oct. 31," she said. "She's missed and loved by many family and friends and her son needs to know where she is and if she's alright."
Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at bccrimestoppers.com.
[email protected] / Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
