Wednesday (Feb. 23) is or would have been Jodi Henrickson's 19th birthday, and a member of her family lamented this week that police are no closer to finding out what happened to the Brackendale teen than they were a year ago.
However, Rob James Henrickson Jodi's older brother on Wednesday said the fact that the Lower Mainland-based Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has taken over the investigation of the case gives him hope that new leads will emerge and from that, perhaps a resolution of the case will result.
"Our family is optimistic with the transfer to the IHIT group will allow that new team to get a fresh look at the case," Rob James told The Chief in a telephone interview.
Henrickson was last seen on Bowen Island in June 2009. No trace of her has yet been found. Last March, Sea to Sky RCMP officials announced that the missing persons investigation had become a murder investigation.
On Wednesday, police announced in a statement that IHIT was taking the lead in the investigation, "with assistance from the Sea to Sky Regional Police Service Serious Crime Section."
In the statement, police said discussions about having IHIT take the lead in the investigation began last fall and that the decision to transfer the case was made in December 2010. But police chose to announce the transfer on the young woman's birthday.
"Investigators felt that this date would be an appropriate time to remind the Bowen Island community of this unsolved mystery and reach out to those that may have information regarding Jodi's disappearance in hopes that they will now come forward to aid the investigation," said the statement, issued by Corp. Dale Carr, IHIT spokesperson.
"Over the course of the next few weeks and months, residents of Bowen Island community can expect to see investigators from IHIT on the island making additional inquiries."
Rob James Henrickson also urged anyone with even a shred of information that might help police determine Jodi's whereabouts to come forward.
"This affects me, my family and all of our extended family, and it affects the Bowen Island community," he said. "Even the slightest bit of information could be the piece of the puzzle that could lead the cops to figuring out what happened.
"Another year's gone by, this is the second birthday to go by and obviously there's still no clue where she is. But we're optimistic that IHIT taking over the investigation will help them get some more information and that something will be found out."
Those with information are asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
