Private Investigator receives tips on Highway of Tears case

While we have already provided this story in an earlier posting, we review the Daily News’ handling of the story.

INVESTIGATOR PROBING HIGHWAY OF TEARS TIPS
The Daily News
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Page One

A private detective investigating the murders of nine women on the ‘Highway of Tears’ says he’s received a tip that may shed some light on one of the crimes.

Ray Michalko, a former Manitoba and North Vancouver RCMP Officer who started pursuing the Highway of Tears cases on his own for free, says he’ll be in the Prince George area next month checking the information, which involves three people and their possible connections to one of the murders.

He would not say which of the cases the information relates to.

“These three, I think, probably have a criminal background,” he said. “They may be there or they may be in jail. They’re somewhere up north, I think.”

Michalko said he wants to talk to people who know the trio and after that will decide if he should contact the police or approach the three people on his own.

“First, I want to talk to the people that know them and may have some information,” he said. “Depending on what information I get I may talk to them directly or I may go to the police, I don’t know at this stage.”

Michalko has already been to the Prince George area once this year and his tab has since been picked up by an anonymous Vancouver women’s group.

“I have the names of five people – I’d rather call them people of interest, rather than suspects because I think suspects is a little harsh,” he said.

Of the five names, he says some are more promising than others.

“Two of them are names that I’ve been given as a result of phone calls I’ve received. They’re sort of a long shot as far as their involvement is concerned.

“There’s three others that I think are more serious, according to what I’ve been told.”

He said he has a list of up to seven people who may have information about those three people.

An RCMP spokesman said they are aware of Michalko and expect to be meeting with him in the future.

“We’re going to sit down and talk to Ray just to make sure that the lines of communication are open,” said RCMP Sgt. John Ward, who recalls serving with Michalko at the North Vancouver RCMP detachment. “I don’t see that this is going to be a problem. We have a review team that’s collecting all the files that are connected to the so-called Highway of tears. It will assist us to see if we’ve missed anything.”

At least nine women, between the ages of 14 and 27, have disappeared or were murdered along Highway 16 between 1989 and last February. However, most groups acquainted with the tragedy believes the number is much higher and many put it at 36.

Among the missing or dead women along the highway since 1989 are Aielah Saric-Auger, 14, Tamara Chipman, 22, Lana Derrick , 19,Ramona Wilson, 15, Delphine Nikal, 15, Roxana Thiara, 15, Aleisha Germain, 15, Nicole Hoar, 25 and Alberta Williams, 27, who disappeared from Prince Rupert in 1989. Williams’ family does not believe she has a connection with the other victims beyond location and is not considered an ‘official’ victim of any ‘Highway of Tears’ list according to RCMP. (With Files CP)