No sign of missing 80-year-old Sechelt woman Rhody Lake has ever been found. Her family is asking the community to help bring closure to the case.
"It's almost like we haven't even been able to start grieving because we don't know what happened to her," Rhody's daughter Jennifer Lake said this week in an interview with Coast Reporter.
Rhody went missing during an afternoon walk from her home in Sandy Hook on Nov. 27, 2005. She was last seen by a witness speaking to an elderly man walking a dog near the entrance to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park at about 3:30 p.m. that day. She may have been wearing a blue and yellow vest, brown corduroy pants, brown hiking boots and an orange or beige toque. She may also have been carrying a walking stick.
It was not unusual for Rhody to walk the trails near her home, as she was very fit and active. Once she was reported missing by her son Adam, search crews descended on the Sandy Hook community and started combing the woods and shoreline for any sign of Rhody. After four days of searching in frigid temperatures, the efforts were called off, and no sign of Rhody has ever been discovered.
Since then Rhody's family has organized many searches but has never found anything.
"We have given up hope she will be found alive and now we're looking for remains that could have been moved by an animal," Jennifer said.
She also noted the family has not ruled out the possibility of foul play, in which case, "she could have been taken very far away or could be very close to home."
Jennifer says the family has thought of every gruesome end Rhody could have succumbed to, but not knowing "is extremely painful."
"Whatever happened we need to know," she said.
The family is asking anyone who saw Rhody on Nov. 27 to contact Sunshine Coast RCMP at 604-885-2266.
"Someone may think their information is not very important, but it could be the piece we need," Jennifer said.
Const. Todd Creed says the Rhody Lake file is still open and notes police have never spoken to the last person Rhody was allegedly seen with.
"We are actively investigating any leads or tips but so far we don't have any answers," Creed said.
Jennifer is confident someone in the community has the information needed to find her mother and bring closure to her family.
"If you know something, anything, please speak to the authorities about it," she said.
And she asks those in the community who walk in the woods to keep an eye open for any sign of Rhody.
"As you are out walking in the trails, forests or beaches this spring and summer, please be mindful that this mystery has not yet been solved," she said.
