Hilary Bonnell is shown in this undated photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, RCMP
ESGENOOPETITJ, N.B. - The mother of a 16-year-old girl whose death and disappearance gripped residents of a small northern New Brunswick community says she feels a small measure of justice after the victim’s cousin was charged with murder.
RCMP charged Curtis Bonnell with first-degree murder after a massive investigation into the death of his cousin, Hilary Bonnell.
"It’s a little bit of justice for my little girl," Hilary’s mother, Pamela Fillier, said Wednesday.
"(But) it’s not over. It’s far from over."
The body of Hilary Bonnell of Esgenoopetitj First Nation, also known as Burnt Church, was found last month buried in a remote wooded area that’s part of a former military training area.
She had been missing since Sept. 5 after attending a house party the night before on the reserve of 1,100, setting off an extensive search.
Her last confirmed sighting was recorded on surveillance footage at a convenience store in the community.
Standing outside that convenience store Wednesday, Fillier said Christmas this year will be particularly difficult without her daughter.
"I don’t want Christmas," she said.
"Christmas is not Christmas - not without her. I enjoyed spoiling her."
RCMP Insp. Roch Fortin said the investigation, which involved more than 200 officers, was arduous from the beginning.
"The investigation has been complex and we have had RCMP members literally working around the clock since we first received the call that Hilary was missing," Fortin told a news conference in nearby Tracadie-Sheila.
"The support from Hilary’s family and from the people of the First Nation of Burnt Church has been appreciated."
He alleged that Curtis Bonnell acted alone, adding that the location where the girl’s body was found was very remote and that no one in the community should feel they failed by not finding her sooner.
"Do not wear the burden or ask the question, ’If I would have done this or done that,"’ Fortin said.
"The outcome would have been the same."
Bonnell has not had an opportunity to enter a plea and the murder charge against him has not been proven in court.
Hilary’s death stunned the reserve’s residents. More than 500 people attended her funeral as her Fillier wept over her casket.
Chiefs from First Nations across Atlantic Canada were on hand at the service to show their support, as was the province’s lieutenant-governor.
"The past few months have been nothing less than tragic for the family and friends of Hilary," Fortin said.
"I have witnessed first-hand the way the community has come together - first to try to locate Hilary and then to say goodbye to her. The compassion and caring display for one another has been extraordinary."
Fortin declined to release Bonnell’s cause of death, saying that was now a matter before the courts.
In a separate matter, Curtis Bonnell is facing charges of sexual assault, unlawful confinement and resisting arrest for an alleged incident in November. He is due in provincial court for those and the first-degree murder charge on Dec. 21 in Miramichi.
