69 replies to this topic

[Kelly]

read more here http://www.ctvbc.ctv...ishColumbiaHome

Search renewed for B.C. woman missing in Vegas

Updated: Sat Nov. 01 2008 16:19:45



Glendene Grant has never given up hope that her daughter Jessie is still alive.

"I still don't believe Jessie's dead," says Grant. "We've got well over 120, 125 articles about Jessie's case."

The Kelowna, B.C. mother hasn't seen her daughter since Christmas 2005. Jessie had come home for a visit from las Vegas, where she was living with 39-year-old Peter Todd. Her final phone call to family came in march 2006.

[Jenn]

Jessie Foster's family blog:

http://jessiefoster.blogspot.com/

[Kelly]

read more here http://www.edmontonj...6989/story.html

'A fundamental assault on liberties'
Canada not immune to illicit trade

By Florence Loyie, The Edmonton Journal
February 25, 2009
 
Just out of sight and mostly out of mind, traffickers make billions each year buying and selling something far more valuable than diamonds, gold or microprocessors, than insider stock tips or international state secrets.

Theirs is a black market some experts think could one day overtake drug trafficking and become, after arms dealing, the second-most profitable criminal activity on the planet.

The commodities on sale in this violent underworld, every day, everywhere? People.

The United Nations estimates that human trafficking generates up to $32 billion in illegal profits every year.

[Lori Davis]

read more here http://www.krqe.com/...sa_200903082056

Mom thinks mesa bones may be her child

Updated: Sunday, 08 Mar 2009, 11:18 PM MDT
Published : Sunday, 08 Mar 2009, 8:56 PM MDT

Reporter: Crystal Gutierrez
Web Producer: Devon Armijo

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A mother from Canada emailed Albuquerque police last month to let them know her daughter, Jessica Foster, has been missing, and she thinks she may buried be in the West Mesa.

Since the first set of remains was found on the mesa, Glendene Grant has digested every news article about New Mexico's bones.

When the count reached six, she became concerned. When detectives said Jane Doe number eight disappeared in 2006 the Canadian mom hopped online and brought cries from Canada to Albuquerque.

"I just googled it, Albuquerque, New Mexico, I pulled up the police department I emailed the sheriff. The one I saw on TV," Grant said.

She told detectives about her daughter, Jessica.

[Kelly]

From Jessica's Mother:

Jessie…my darling, sweet, beautiful daughter; I miss you so much it physically hurts me. You have been missing for 3 years. THREE YEARS. I cannot believe this. I want you back so badly. My life has changed so much since you have been gone. I can’t believe it has been this long. I have not stopped for one day, one hour, one minute except to sleep, eat or work. You are my number one priority now. Finding you is what I have to do…or die trying.

Your sisters miss you so much too. Jim absolutely can’t stand that this is happening to us…to you. Your dad, Tracy, Jodie and Alisha – everyone is in disbelief and shock that this tragedy has struck our family and that you are a victim. Of what we are not positive but the facts show that it is probably human trafficking.

Grandpa Grant (my dad) is doing well…he will be 83 in July. He misses you so much and is a pillar of strength for me. I have not talked to Grandma Foster (Jessie’s dad’s mother), but your dad says she is doing ok…sad, but ok.

Jennee & Katie have both had babies and Jodie & Alisha are both married and have had babies. Sadly, several people have passed away. Just a few months after you disappeared, Mark (Fraser) was in a very bad motorcycle accident and passed away. It was simply terrible – Matt had just turned 19. My cousin Linda (Auntie Billie’s daughter) passed away from cancer, but not before helping us with a few fundraisers on your behalf. A lot has happened…I can’t wait to sit down with you and tell you everything.

Jennee has a daughter, your first blood niece, Maddison Louise (after you) – born December 26, 2007. Jennee went in labour on Christmas Day…the last day we ever saw you in 2005. (Sadly, we never saw you again after that and you went missing 3 months later, but Jennee is positive that there was a reason that she went in labour that day, she was not due until early January.) Maddie is the cutest, smartest, most adorable little girl and has us all wrapped around her little finger.

Katie has a son, your first blood nephew, Jacobus James (after his daddy Jake and grandpa Jim, great-grandpa Grant & uncle Jimmie) – born January 7, 2009. Katie was due in December, but was 10 days overdue. JJ is the first boy in our immediate family and is a sweet, dear beautiful little baby boy.

Vicki-Sue (Jessie’s cousin) & Gord got married and they had another baby, a boy, Braedon – he will be 3 this year…he was born on Kalysta’s 6th birthday. She says he was her birthday present. Uncle Jimmie got married to Colette and they had a daughter Piper, who was 2-years-old in February. Wil (Jessie’s cousin) and Pam have had 2 babies together. Audrey will be 2 in June and little Liam born in February. Adam (Jessie’s cousin) recently got married to his girlfriend, Melanie and they are going to have a baby in October. I wish I was able to tell you every single thing that has happened, but there is no room, plus I can’t remember them all right now (guess what – Mommy is going to be 52-years-old this year and your Dad was 50 on his last birthday…Tracy will be 50 this month just before this terrible anniversary [stupid name]…unreal, yea…I know).

Your case has got quite a lot of attention and is bringing awareness to Canada, the USA and the world about human trafficking. Your story has been told locally, nationally and internationally and we will not stop until we find you or every single person in the world knows who you are. Wait until you see how many supporters we have in our search for you…you will be so honoured that so many people love you and want you back where you belong. Your big sister is crushed. She is probably taking it the worst of all except for me and your dad, because the older sibling always feels as if they have to look out for the younger ones. I know I did. I know Jim did. Crystal swears you looked at her when you turned back at the airport when we all dropped you off and she saw a look on your face that she never understood until after you went missing. She now knows it was a look asking to not let you go. But we did not know, we wish we did.

I could go on and on, but right now I have to close with this…when you were really little and we still lived in Calgary, my friend Jeanne D looked at your picture on the wall (it was your 1st birthday portrait and you were wearing the cute little green & white outfit Grandma Grant got for you), she turned to me and said, “You know, Jessie will be well known one day”. Seriously, she said that and I have never, ever forgotten it. I always had thoughts that you would be well known for other reasons, not for being an international endangered missing person. But the truth is: YOU ARE WELL KNOWN, my girl and we will find you.

I love you very much Jessie, your loving mom who misses you and wants you back with all my heart and soul. 

[Kelly]

AAN Annual Poster Notify Sent to AAN Subscribers  Code 48

Help us find the missing: Become an AAN Member
http://www.projectja.../awareness.html

[Kelly]

read more here http://www.edmontons...29/8930026.html

Mother still suffering years after daughter's disappearance

3/29/09
By Alyssa Noel, Sun Media


Edmonton  In the three years since her daughter went missing in Las Vegas seedy underbelly, Glendene Grant's emotions have run the gamut from depression to hope.

After countless phone calls, emails and hours of advocacy work to keep her daughter's story alive, Grant has arrived at the conclusion that Jessie Foster did not going missing in vain.

Jessie has really made people aware of human trafficking, Grant said yesterday on the three-year anniversary of Foster's disappearance.

Grant has made sure her daughter's name shows up on every missing person website.

[Kelly]

Jessica has been placed on Project Jason's 18 Wheel Angels campaign. A special poster has been made for her and can be downloaded and printed for placement. More information about the program, and the link for the poster can be found here:

http://projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml

In addition to the campaign, Jessica was also featured in a national trucking publications, either Independent Contractor or TruckJobSeekers. These free magazines are distributed in truck stops nationwide and have a circulation of about 150,000.

Independent Contractor and TruckJobSeekers are two of Target Media Partner's many publications. In partnership with Project Jason, they each feature two missing persons each per month. You can pick up your free copies at a local truck stop, but if it's far from you, you may want to call and ask if they carry that magazine. These are NOT with the regular for purchase magazines.

We hope this helps in the search for Jessica. Please consider printing and placing a poster in businesses in your community.



Thank you.

Kelly, Project Jason

[Kelly]

Note: The story below was written by Jessica's mother exclusively for the 18 Wheel Angels Program.

My Jessie

May 27, 2009 will be Jessie Foster’s 25th birthday. I have not seen her since she was 20 years old. I have 4 daughters and Jessie is my 2nd oldest and she has been missing since March 29, 2006. Jessie is an international endangered missing person and she is likely a human trafficking victim.

Jessie was born in Calgary, AB, raised in Kamloops, BC and moved back to Calgary to graduate from high school in 2002. Jessie was a very good student; she was involved in sports and on the honour roll. Jessie is a wonderful daughter, granddaughter, sister, auntie, cousin, friend and so much more and Jessie is needed back by so many.

After Jessie graduated from high school she got her own apartment with her older sister, Crystal and 2 of her closest friends from Kamloops, Sri and Shauna. They all worked and did their own thing, and eventually the other 3 moved out and Jessie ended up living there alone. She got some new furniture and a car and she was loving life. Jessie was working two jobs and for a while even worked three.

In February 2005 Jessie decided to move back to Kamloops for a while, she was not sure what she wanted to do, and she wanted to take some time to decide. Jessie had been hit by a car on her way to school in grade 11 and suffered serious injuries to her leg. This took her out of sports and dance for the rest of school and she had to do therapy to get well. Eventually she got a fairly large settlement from the insurance company and had told me she was considering going to school to become something – what, she was not sure of yet, but she wanted to do something for her future.

Jessie put all her belongings into a storage unit that did not fit in her car and she came home to Kamloops. She ended up working two jobs, one at Boston Pizza and one at Rivershore Golf & Country Club. Jessie was always a hard worker, so when she got a call from a friend in Calgary asking her to go with him to Ft. Lauderdale, FL for a vacation, even I thought that she probably deserved to get away. She was gone for a several days and when she came back she had pictures of a fabulous Florida vacation. On a huge boat, jumping on an ocean trampoline, para sailing. Every picture she had the hugest smile on her face. But when she was called again a few weeks later and asked to go on another trip, this time to Manhattan, NY and Atlantic City, NJ, I was skeptical. So was her dad in Calgary. But she basically told us we worry too much and she would be fine and she left in early May.

She was gone for a few days when she called us and told us this so-called friend had tried to get her to solicit herself to cover his gambling losses, she was devastated. She called me, she called her dad, and she called her older sister. Telling each one of us about this. I did not know what to do or say. I asked her if he had hurt her or if she was afraid of him, to which she said no, of course not. I was more worried at that time, about my daughter alone in the lobby of a Manhattan hotel late at night and told her if she was not scared of him or worried he would do something, she would probably be safer back in the room until her flight, which was the next day. She agreed and said she would call again tomorrow.

When Jessie called the next day she said he was sorry for what he said, and she was going to fly to Las Vegas on her way home. Originally her flight was to go from New York to Canada, then fly through Canada west to British Columbia, but now she was flying from New York to Las Vegas, then she said she would come home from there. I did not like this idea at all, and told her.

When Jessie got to Las Vegas it was May 13, 2005, exactly 2 weeks until Jessie’s 21st birthday and when she called me from there she said she decided she was going to stay there so she could celebrate her birthday. I was freaking out. I said ‘no way’, but she said she was ok and would be home soon. She even told me she was calling her boss, but she was a bit worried she would loose her job for being gone so long. I told her that if she was staying there for that long, then I wanted a phone number to someone down there that I would be able to contact if something happened and I was not able to reach her. I literally said to my daughter, “what if you go missing…who would I call?” She gave me the number of a girl that she said was her friend and then, 10 months later I had to report Jessie as a missing person.

Over the next couple of weeks Jessie kept in contact with us, telling us all the exciting things she was doing, then just before she was to come home, she called to say she and her friend were in a car accident. She said a taxicab ran a red light and struck their car and they filed an insurance claim and they were going to get some money. She said she had to stay there for court but would be back as soon as this was done. They she called to say she met a man…then she was falling in love with him. Before I knew it, she had moved in with him. He had a big, expensive home in North Las Vegas, NV with a pool in the back yard. He owned fancy cars and treated Jessie like a princess, taking to clubs with famous people sitting next to them. She was awed. He wooed her and she never saw it coming.

After Jessie went missing we hired a private investigator that found out all kinds of terrible things. There were hospital records showing my daughter had been badly beaten and there were arrest reports. It turns out her prince charming was nothing but a pimp who forced Jessie to work at an escort agency. Jessie was scared of this person, I was told his directly from the woman who ran this agency who was so worried about Jessie. Telling me that many times she saw bruises on Jessie and that she had tried to convince Jessie to leave and go back to Canada. She would say, “Little Girl, go home. You do not belong down her”, but Jessie always said the same thing…she was too afraid to leave.

But she decided she had to leave. On March 28, 2006 she spoke to Crystal several times. They were planning on meeting here in Kamloops and driving in Jessie’s car to Calgary for their stepsister’s wedding reception. Jessie’s car insurance card even came in the mail a few days later, proof she paid $200 for insurance for one month for the month of April 2006. They ended the call with ‘talk to you tomorrow’, but every time Crystal called her the next day she never got an answer. Then Katie also told me she was calling Jessie for 2 days without an answer or a call back. So I tried to reach her and ended up filling up her voice mail with frantic messages.

I reported her missing in the USA and in Canada on the 9th of April after trying to reach her, her by then-fiance and her friend who’s number I had for days. I did not know what to do. Her dad was in Mexico for a family wedding and the police would not be able to take the report until we spoke to him to confirm she did not go there at the last minute and never told us. She didn’t, so we reported her and the report was not activate until the 9th.

So much has happened since Jessie went missing. Our lives changed a lot. I have changed so much and strangely enough, not all for the bad. I feel a pang of guilt as I type this, because I cannot understand how anyone, especially myself, could ever continue to live, and even manage to smile and laugh when they have a missing child. SHAME ON ME. Shame on anyone who can ever find an ounce of good in life when they have a missing child and absolutely no answers for years, years, years. And shame on those who don’t.

Yes, it is confusing but so is the inside of my head. When Jessie first went missing my doctor put me on anti-depressants, but after a time, I told her that I was not depressed, I was sad. So she took me off them. I also stayed stuck on the date that Jessie went missing. My list of things to tell Jessie grew longer, but instead of living in the present, I was stuck on March 29, 2006, the first day we lost contact with my girl. This went on for a very long time, my other family members, children, husband, elderly father, everyone was ‘dealing’ with me the best they could.

Then the first miracle in my life for a long time happened. My youngest daughter, Jennee had a baby girl. I had a granddaughter. Born December 26, 2007, after going in labour with her on Christmas Day, the very last day we ever saw Jessie in person was on Christmas Day 2005. Jessie went missing 3 months later, so since then Christmas was a sad time. Not now. We know that this baby came into our lives to enrich it. And did she ever. Maddison, my little Medicine. Maddie, my little Meddie. I love her and I am so grateful to her. The second she was born I was forced into the present. I was no longer living in the past. I still had my list for Jessie, but it was different. Then when my grandson Jacobus James was born January 2009, I finally had a baby boy in my life. Jessie has a niece and a nephew who need her to come home so they can grow up knowing their Auntie Jessie.

Jessie’s disappearance has had an effect on so many people, and a huge one on me. I am so different and I have a purpose that I concentrate on. This purpose has 2 parts to it. FIND JESSIE is part 1, and I will find her or die trying. Part 2 is HELP OTHERS. If I can’t find my child, I will do anything in my power to help others. When Jessie first went missing one of the first people I ‘met’ online who was going through this terrible nightmare was Kelly Jolkowski whose son Jason’s disappearance has pushed her forward in ways that I strive to follow someday. She does everything she can to help others with a missing loved one do what we need to do to find them, or at the very least, make others aware of them. We do not know what to do in the beginning of this terrible journey; we need someone to guide us. I try now to guide as I was guided.

Jessie’s story has been told nationally and internationally – but it needs to be told worldly. If, as suspected, Jessie is the victim of human trafficking, then she literally could be anywhere in the world. If Jessie is not alive, then someone, somewhere, knows something. If this person comes forward, they would be eligible for our $50,000 reward. That is a pretty substantial amount.

Now with Jessie having been missing 3 years this past March 29th and turning 25 on May 27th, I do not know what to think. Will this ever end? I sure hope so. Will it end soon? Who knows? Some get good answers, some get the worst possible answers ever, but still…they are answers. Some go years, decades and their lives sadly end without ever getting an answer to the question: WHERE IS MY CHILD? Well, if that happens, the second we pass, God will be there with the answers and in some cases, there with our children to meet us. No matter what, I have no doubt I will see Jessie again, I just want to see her alive and soon.

With love to my family and all our supporters. Not just Jessie’s, but also Crystal, Katie & Jennee’s mom and Maddison and Jacobus’ grandma, Glendene Grant.

FOR MORE INFO ON JESSIE’S CASE – http://www.jessiefoster.ca

[Lori Davis]

https://www.findthem...g.org/cases/177
NamUs profile for Jessica Foster - Case #177

[Kelly]

Project Jason announces the featured missing persons in the December 2009 issue of the CDLJobs.com Online Magazine, which can be viewed at http://www.cdljobs.c...azine/DEC09.htm  This month's ad is on page 18. The site receives thousands of visitors per day.

Each month, CDLJobs.com publishes a full color ad in their popular online magazine which will feature 5-6 of Project Jason's missing person cases from across the country. The ad has clickable links which take the reader to additional information about the missing person, and a link to their printable poster.  Readers are encouraged to sign up for the AAN program and help with poster distribution. "You can be a Hero" is the theme of the joint venture.

Awareness Angels Network (AAN). AAN, begun by Project Jason in 2008, provides a way for the public to assist the families of missing persons. Missing persons posters designed specifically for the AAN program are disseminated via email to those enrolled in the program. Participants can then upload the posters to websites, print and place the posters in public areas, and forward them to their contacts. The program helps spread the word and increase the chances of finding the person.

In the December issue, the following missing persons were featured:

Jeramy Burt, missing from Boise, ID since 2/11/2007: http://www.projectja....php?topic=2133

Jessica Foster, missing from North Las Vegas, NV since 3/28/2006: http://www.projectja...php?topic=137.0

Roxanne Paltauf, missing from Austin, TX since 7/7/2006: http://www.projectja...php?topic=691.0

Shelva Rafte, missing from Pittston, PA since 5/29/2006: http://www.projectja...php?topic=464.0

Daniel Reeves, missing from Madison, IN since 5/30/2008: http://projectjason....hp?topic=2900.0

Jennifer and Adrianna Wix, missing from Cross Plains, TN since 3/25/2004: http://www.projectja...hp?topic=4121.0


You can read more about this program at http://projectjason....hp?topic=6319.0

[Kelly]

AAN Annual Poster Notify Sent to AAN Subscribers  Code 81

Help us find the missing: Become an AAN Member and receive notifications about missing persons via email.

Click here to become a part of the solution: http://www.projectja...awareness.shtml

[Kelly]

read more here http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/columnists/andrew_hanon/2010/03/24/13348981.html

Mom still searches
It's been four years since Jessie Foster vanished in Las Vegas

http://storage.canoe...pg&size=248x186

Last Updated: March 24, 2010 10:16pm

For Glendene Grant, March 29 is the most difficult day of the year.

It was on that date four years ago that her 21-year-old daughter Jessie Foster vanished.

Jessie was living in Las Vegas at the time and Grant is convinced that the attractive, vivacious blond is the victim of human trafficking. Grant fears she’s being forced into prostitution against her will.

“This is the hardest time of year,” she says wearily. “So is Mother’s Day, Jessie’s birthday, any day of the week that ends in ‘day,’ really.”

[Jenn]

read more here http://www.ctv.ca/se...ub=TopStoriesV2

4 years after daughter disappeared, mom still hopeful

Date: Mon. Mar. 29 2010 9:18 AM ET

Glendene Grant has never given up hope that her daughter is still alive.

The Kamloops, B.C., mother hasn't seen her daughter, Jessica "Jessie" Foster, since Christmas 2005, when the then-21-year-old came home for the holidays.

Jessie had been living in Las Vegas and told her mom she had become engaged to be married.

"We thought Jessie was living a normal life in Las Vegas, but ultimately, that's not what was going on at all," Grant told CTV's Canada AM Monday from Vancouver.

[Jenn]

read more here http://www.edmontons...2/13800046.html

Mother of missing girl highlights human trafficking

By ALYSSA NOEL, Edmonton Sun  Last Updated: May 2, 2010 6:31pm

A Kamloops mother who believes her daughter was sucked into human trafficking four years ago will be travelling to Ottawa to share her story with Parliament.

Glendene Grant’s 21-year-old daughter Jessie Foster disappeared while living with her boyfriend in Las Vegas.

Since then, Grant has been shoved into the spotlight as a spokeswoman for human trafficking, a position she has increasingly embraced.

Recently, while at the first annual Glendene and Jessie Foster Award ceremony - during which an anti-human trafficking group handed out awards for those who have helped combat trafficking - Grant was approached by Conservative MP Joy Smith.

[Denise Harrison]

Jessie Foster Case Featured on "The Missing" TV series

Jessica was featured on today's "The Missing" series, produced by Telco Productions. http://www.usamissing.com/

[Lori Davis]

http://www.local12.c...ce-173024.shtml

 

Man Possibly Linked to Missing Woman Had Contact With Police

 

Updated: Mon, Jul 27 2015, 11:41 PM

 

CHARLESTON, West Virginia (AP) -- A man toting axes, a shovel and bleach when he was killed by an escort he met online had been stopped, interviewed or investigated by police in at least 20 states and is being looked into for possible links to unsolved disappearances or slayings, authorities said Monday.

 

West Virginia authorities are trying to circulate information to see if Neal Falls, of Springfield, Oregon, can be linked to any other crimes against women nationwide. Police say Falls was fatally shot July 18 as he attacked and choked the escort in Charleston, West Virginia, and she grabbed his handgun off the ground and fired it.

 

Police found axes, knives, handcuffs, a shovel, bleach and other items in Falls' car, raising suspicions this wasn't the first time he had attacked a woman.

 

"The fact that he was 45 years old and carrying tools like he was and committing a crime that was so organized and so violent, it's unlikely that this was his first violent crime," Charleston police Lt. Steve Cooper said.

 

Cooper said Falls had a list of 10 other women in his pocket. Nine were in West Virginia; one was in San Diego. Similar to the Charleston woman, whom police are calling Heather, all were escorts active online, he said.

 

They are all alive, he said. Heather had a separated shoulder, broken vertebrae, strangulation marks around her throat and other injuries, Cooper said.

 

No history of major crimes in Falls' record has surfaced. However, police said records show that authorities in states including Arizona, Kentucky and Virginia had interactions with Falls such as stopping him, running his license plate or checking his Social Security number.

 

"We are sharing this information with law enforcement across the country in hopes that we may be able to help solve cold cases or bring closure to some families if Mr. Falls has been involved in anything like this before," Cooper said.

 

Charleston police have notified southern Nevada authorities, who said they are investigating Falls' possible involvement in a series of killings long believed to be connected. Police have said Falls rented a room in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson when four prostitutes went missing in the area. In three cases, young women working as prostitutes went missing and were found dismembered on the side of a road.

 

Henderson police spokeswoman Michelle French said they are checking into any possible Falls connection to the 2005 disappearance of 21-year-old Lindsay Harris. She was the subject of a massive search, and her family from central New York helped comb the desert area where her rental car was last seen 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. The case appeared on an episode of "America's Most Wanted." Leg parts were identified as hers through DNA testing three years after they were found off Interstate 55 near Springfield, Illinois, more than 1,600 miles away.

 

Las Vegas police confirmed they're investigating the death of 25-year-old Misty Saens, whose partial remains were wrapped in plastic and cloth and were found off a road near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in 2003.

 

North Las Vegas police said detectives are searching for 21-year-old Jessica Foster, who was reported missing from the Vegas suburb in 2006. A fourth woman was reported missing from Vegas in 2003, and her torso was found wrapped in plastic near the Nevada-California border.

 

Cooper said Falls had "many contacts with law enforcement" across the country.

 

"He has been stopped and investigated by the police in upwards of 20 states," Cooper said.

 

He said Charleston police also have been communicating with authorities in the small southern Ohio city of Chillicothe, where four women died in suspicious circumstances and two others are missing. He said there has been no evidence placing Falls there, but it's been considered because of the proximity to Charleston, less than a two-hour drive away.

 

Cooper said police are gathering information on Falls. It appears he was staying in his car, where he kept a pillow and sleeping bag, Cooper said.

 

"He had no cash, no credit cards," Cooper said. "It's a mystery how he had traveled across the country to us right now. There's something that we haven't discovered yet."

 

This story has been corrected to show Cooper said the man had contact with police in upward of 20 states, not in 20 states. 

[Kelly]

http://infotel.ca/ne...D4NLHo.facebook

Kamloops woman holding riverside candle vigil for anniversary of missing daughter

By Brendan Kergin
1:00 PM

KAMLOOPS - Glendale Grant is holding an event this week to commemorate the tenth anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance.

Jessie Foster went missing in Las Vegas 10 years ago and the Tuesday, March 29 event will include the naming of a star in honour of Grant's daughter and a candle light vigil.

Grant says it’s not just to commemorate her daughter, but to serve as a reminder of all the people who are missing.

“These huge numbers, it’s been 25 years since Michael Dunahee went missing, it boggles peoples mind, but it reminds them,” she says. “It’s not just to commemorate the person, but it reminds people. That’s the only way to conquer anything is to keep the light shining on it.”

Grant says anniversaries can be hard when it’s the disappearance of a loved one.

“I have a hard time. I can feel this thing, it’s beginning to hit — 10 years.”

Grant says whicle she is nervous about having a public anniversary, she sees the importance of talking about human trafficking. She says it brings people together who’ve gone through similar experiences.

“There’s at least three families who over the years who’ve had a connection with our family because they’ve gone through something like us,” she says.

The event starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29 at the bandshell in Riverside Park. Grant says a local DJ will have his equipment on hand for speakers to talk to the crowd. The candle vigil will follow once the sky darkens; Some candles will be provided, but Grant is hoping some people can bring their own candles.