Cold case murder: 14-year-old girl vanishes along Highway of Tears

VANCOUVER – Fourteen-year-old Monica Ignas disappeared along Highway 16, the so-called Highway of Tears, in 1974 and Crime Stoppers is hoping you can help solve her murder.

Ignas moved with her family from Houston, B.C. to the Terrace area in 1973. She lived just off the highway in the unincorporated community of Thornhill.

She was last seen on Dec. 13, 1974, at about 11 p.m. walking by herself along Highway 16 toward her home.

Four months later, on April 6, 1975, her body was discovered close to a heavily wooded Forest Services Road known as Celgar.

Two witnesses reported seeing a car pulled over to the side of the road the night Ignas vanished.

The pair saw a man and a passenger who looked like a girl inside the vehicle.

Ignas had been wearing a blue wool duffle coat with wooden toggles for buttons and brown Wallabee-style shoes. Investigators say she was also wearing blue socks with the shoes, but only one sock was found at the crime scene.

If you have any information on this cold case, call police. If you wish to remain anonymous, visit BCcrimestoppers.com or call 1-800-222-8477.