Search for missing Alberta woman in B.C. wraps up

The RCMP say they have finished searching two sites in the central Interior of B.C. for the remains of a missing tree planter from Alberta but they aren't saying what, if anything, they found.

Police and volunteers had been searching a two-hectare property near Prince George for any sign of Nicole Hoar, 25, who disappeared in 2002.

That search was expanded Saturday to include an unauthorized community dump about a kilometre northwest of the original site for possible items related to the case.

The RCMP said Sunday they had finished work at both sites.

Cpl. Annie Linteau said police can't say whether they found any human remains or other items of interest.

The first property investigators searched was once owned by Leland Vincent Switzer. A man by the same name was convicted of killing his brother two days after Hoar disappeared, but it is not clear whether they are the same person.

The RCMP did not say if Switzer was the person of interest in the case.

Hoar, from Red Deer, Alta., disappeared while hitchhiking along Highway 16 west of Prince George.

That highway has been called the Highway of Tears because 18 women, including Hoar, have gone missing along the highway since 1969. No arrests have been made.

Linteau said Sunday it was too early to comment on whether or not they've uncovered any evidence linking Hoar's disappearance to other cases.

The RCMP said in a written release they would continue to investigate Hoar's disappearance, as well as "the disappearance or homicide of the 17 other women."

The release said investigators "have conducted an extensive review of all investigations and feel that all are progressing very well. Investigators are hopeful that they will one day be able to give all victim families the closure that they are hoping for."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Unsolved Homicide Unit at 1-877-543-4822 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.