Bridgewater anxious for autopsy ID

A mystery that has haunted Bridgewater, N.S., will hopefully end Thursday when police say whether a body found last weekend is that of a missing 12-year-old girl.

RCMP and Bridgewater police will hold a news conference regarding the disappearance of Karissa Boudreau and the body of a young white female discovered on Saturday.

For many people in the area, it has been a long and agonizing week.

"My eight-year-old asks me about it every day, and I'm afraid to tell him what I think," said Bridget Holmes.

Karissa was last seen on Jan. 27, when her mother says they got into a fight in the parking lot of the Sobeys near the LaHave River. Penny Boudreau says she went into the store and when she came out, Karissa was gone.

Karissa's picture was distributed widely as police turned to the public for tips. Two aerial searches, as well as an underwater search of the river near the store, failed to turn up any sign of the Grade 6 student.

On Saturday, a passerby found a body along the banks of the river outside Bridgewater. Police later confirmed it was a young, white female, but would not say whether it was Karissa.

An autopsy was underway Wednesday in Halifax.

Residents want closure

"It's sort of a mystery, and in some ways it would be nice to have some kind of conclusion to it," said Bridgewater resident David Baker.

A white teddy bear and a few bouquets of flowers marked the snowy spot where the body was discovered.

"I'm feeling very anxious, even a little nervous to find out what has happened," said Darlene Rhodenizer. "I have an 11-year-old daughter myself. I just hope there is some closure soon."

The police news conference is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Chester.

The principal of Bridgewater Elementary School, where Karissa attended, is expected to speak to reporters later in the day.