DNA testing helps identify body found in southern Ontario as B.C. woman who went missing in 2005

Kate Bueckert · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 23, 2024 11:17 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

Nearly 19 years after a woman's body was found in a wooded area at a southern Ontario picnic rest stop, police have identified her as a missing woman from Chilliwack, B.C., after turning to sophisticated DNA testing.

Ontario Provincial Police say 41-year-old Tammy Eileen Penner is the woman found dead at the rest area off Highway 7 between Guelph and Rockwood on Aug. 28, 2005.

Penner's body was found under a Woods-brand sleeping bag. Police say it appeared she had been dragged a short distance into the woods about a month before the remains were found. She wasn't wearing any jewelry or identification, and it's believed her clothing — a pair of black shorts, a beige tank top, white underwear and a peach-coloured bra — was purchased in the Montreal area.

Over the years, police have released sketches and other artist renderings of Penner in hopes of getting help to identify her.

OPP Det. Insp. Randy Gaynor told CBC News that police used investigative genetic genealogy to help crack the case. This April, a presumptive identification was made and used to located Penner's family members. Then, a family member's DNA was used to confirm Penner's identity.

"This is 19 years in the making and the investigative genetic genealogy that we're utilizing, it's a big advancement in policing to help us solve not only crimes, but just identifying people for their family members," Gaynor said.

Penner was reported missing to the RCMP on Feb. 7, 2005. Before disappearing, she had lived in Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

The cause of death is undetermined but is considered suspicious, Gaynor said. It appears that before her death, police said, she had a broken left cheek, nose and left eye socket, which had healed.

"We're hoping that people will recognize and name Tammy Penner as being in Ontario or even being in British Columbia and coming to Ontario with someone, and we're hoping that anyone that has information will come forward with any information they have that will assist us in determining her cause of death," Gaynor said.

For years, a memorial has been set up at the rest area where Penner's body was found.

Gaynor said he has been in contact with Penner's family and they were appreciative of what people have done to remember someone whose identity wasn't known.

"The memorial like that was very touching for them," he said.

Anyone with information about Penner is asked to contact OPP or Crime Stoppers.