A candlelight vigil is happening Saturday in Hope for April Lee-Ann Parisian, missing from her home in Spuzzum for close to seven weeks.
The vigil will take place on Saturday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at Hope’s downtown Memorial Park. “(We) would like to keep April’s spirit going until we can find her. Come share a lit candle or a few words about this beautiful lady,” organizers stated in a Facebook event posting.
Deedee Peters told the Hope Standard the gathering is about keeping April’s spirit alive, “to have everyone remember her and to keep searching for her.” Organizers are asking anyone who wants to come out and drum to join the vigil. They add that the rules of physical distancing will be in place during the event.
Since Parisian was last in contact with those she knew on April 5, family have been organizing searches along highways, in the front and backcountry of the upper Fraser Valley as well as around Chilliwack. Family are intent on keeping searches going until they find their loved one they told the Hope Standard, and have been fundraising to gather enough money for gas to keep family, friends and volunteers searching.
Investigators with the RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) also continue to look into what they are calling a ‘suspicious missing persons investigation.’ IHIT took charge of the investigation after Parisian’s partner Paris Margesson was found dead from what police believe to be a self-inflicted wound on April 16, in a truck and camper belonging to her.
Parisian is described by police as an Indigenous female with blonde hair and blue eyes, 170 centimetres (5 feet 7 inches) tall, weighing 127 kilograms (280 pounds.) She is known to shop in Chilliwack and is a well-known face around Hope, but is generally a homebody at her home in Spuzzum.
Anyone with information should call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-4448, or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Read more on the search for April Parisian:
Family issue urgent appeal to locate woman missing from Hope area
Family, police confirm boyfriend of April Parisian, missing since early April, is dead
PHOTOS: Searchers go into Spuzzum backcountry to look for April Parisian
IHIT suspect foul play in case of missing Fraser Canyon woman
emelie.peacock@hopestandard.com
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