It’s been 50 years to the day since 17-year-old Carmen Robinson disappeared in View Royal.
Last seen getting off the bus at Holland Avenue and West Burnside Road on Dec. 8, 1973, the teen had finished her shift at the Ingraham Hotel, now a supportive housing building on Douglas Street.
Now retired, Wendal Milne was assigned to the investigation when her family reported her missing.
“Of all the cases I was involved with, and I was in police for 25 years, it’s the case that sticks out in my mind,” Milne said Friday.
Investigators were frustrated immediately with the lack of leads.
“In Carmen’s case, there was nothing to go on. And I fear that she’s gone, and that she’ll never be found,” said Milne. “It’s sad. At least some closure to friends and family that are left, if we knew what happened to her.”
Crime Stoppers recreated her last few minutes in a video with a young woman wearing similar clothes at her bus stop.
But nothing.
Story continues below.
A screenshot from the Crime Stoppers recreation video is shown.
A witness reported seeing Robinson in an argument with a “swarthy looking” man on Helmcken Road two days before she went missing.
The male reportedly drove a 1970’s Chevy Nova or Plymouth Duster painted burnt orange.
Again, no leads.
Serial killer Clifford Olson lived in Victoria at the time Carmen disappeared, and confessed that he murdered her.
He took police to Fort Rodd Hill where he claimed to have buried her body, but he wasn’t credible, and nothing turned up.
Police believe she was murdered shortly after her disappearance.
They even consulted a psychic who dreamt that Carmen was in a tall wooded area. So they took tracking dogs to Beacon Hill Park.
But again, they came up empty.
Investigators believe a house at 380 Lavender Ave. may be related somehow, but have no suspects, no leads, and no information.
Yet, investigators remain hopeful.
“Any kind of focus that you can put on it. People think, ’50 years, it’s too long.’ It’s not too long. Because there could still be friends or whatever that may know something. And boy, if this triggers it, it’s worthwhile doing it,” Milne said.
Carmen’s disappearance is still an active case for the West Shore RCMP, and they welcome any information.
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