Jessica Patrick-Balczer was just 18 years old when her family’s worst nightmare came true. The young mother from Lake Babine First Nation was last seen on August 31, 2018, at a party at the Mountain View Motel in Smithers, B.C. That evening, she hugged her one-year-old daughter tightly, left her with her grandmother, and promised she’d return soon.
When days passed without a word, Jessica’s family reported her missing. They say police initially dismissed their concerns, suggesting she had simply gone out. Unwilling to wait, loved ones organized their own search parties. On September 15, 2018, Jessica’s aunt discovered her body on Hudson Bay Mountain, 12 days after she disappeared.
Jessica was remembered as bubbly, goofy, and always uplifting those around her, even while navigating the foster care system and the challenges of intergenerational trauma. Above all, she was devoted to her baby daughter, Alayah.
The RCMP have never released a cause of death, citing an ongoing investigation. But Jessica’s family remains determined to find answers and ensure she is not forgotten among the many women lost along the Highway of Tears.
Anyone with information about Jessica Patrick-Balczer’s death is urged to contact Smithers RCMP at 250-847-3233. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Comments