A missing woman from the Scia’new First Nation was found dead just 500 feet from her home Saturday.
Raymona Peter, 46, was last seen walking from the Scia’new First Nation in the Beecher Bay area of East Sooke on September 30.
She went missing while trying to find her phone in some nearby woods after losing it.
Peter’s family and the community are stunned by the news of her death.
“It’s devastating for all of us,” said her uncle James Anthony Peter. “We lost Ramona, this young girl that grown-up. She was the oldest one in our family, like the oldest grandaughter and she was just a loveable person.”
Three days after Peter was reported missing, a massive search and rescue effort was conducted on land, in the water, and by air. Police dogs were also brought in to help locate Peter.
However, the search effort was called off last Saturday after the RCMP received reports of possible sightings of Peter in downtown Victoria.
READ MORE: Beecher Bay community scours woods for missing 46-year-old woman
But the community didn’t give up, continuing their search along with Metchosin Fire Department as well as others.
“She didn’t make it to town, we believed she was always here,” said James.
James says they always felt the need to return to an area closer to home and search.
“The first day we found one of her marking pens because she would do art down by the river. So we continued every day.”
Sadly, in the end, it was a member of the community who discovered Peter’s body 500 feet from her home.
“This is a small band and they all stepped up and gave long hours. They are at a loss, she wasn’t in town she was here,” James said.
The RCMP and BC Coroners Service are still investigating, but foul play is not suspected.
The family says they expect to hear more from the coroners on Tuesday and hope it will bring more details on how this tragic death happened.”
“So many questions on where we think what happened to her, so close to home,” said James.
Julian Kolsut
