Body found in N.B. is that of missing mother

SHENSTONE, N.B. – A family’s hope turned to despair this weekend in New Brunswick when a missing person’s investigation became a homicide probe.

The discovery of Sabrina Patterson’s body on Saturday morning, about three kilometres from the home of her former boyfriend and father of her two children, has shocked a community that rallied to bring her home safely soon after she went missing Oct. 29.

"It’s a very sad day for the family and friends of Sabrina Patterson," RCMP Sgt. Gary Cameron said Sunday as police formalized what everyone feared: the human remains found in the heart of Albert County on Saturday were those of the missing 25-year-old.

The area is located off Highway 910, near Hillsborough, about 30 kilometres south of Moncton. A large area was cordoned off by police as they continued to search for clues in her death.

Fred Prosser, the 31-year-old father of the former couple’s two children, also disappeared on the Monday after Patterson vanished but then turned up on Thursday at his home.

Prosser is in jail on unrelated charges of assaulting Patterson and stealing her cellphone on Oct. 9, as well as with breaching court-imposed conditions not to contact her. His bail hearing is Monday.

Cameron said the Mounties are being careful not to prejudge the case.

"Our investigation right now is very broad. We’ll be looking at many people," the officer said. "Everyone who has already been interviewed will be reinterviewed. Mr. Prosser will likely be questioned."

Cameron wouldn’t say if Prosser is considered a suspect.

"We never identify a suspect, per se, until a person is charged in court."

Police are giving only the barest of details for now about the circumstances of Patterson’s death and what led to the discovery of her body, except to say that a man who was out searching for Patterson found her remains along Shaw Road on Saturday morning.

Shaw Road has been a hot-bed of police activity since shortly after the mid-Saturday morning discovery of her body. The road, a lonely dirt trail through the dense Albert County bush, was blocked by police cars, trucks and vans, while officers battled record-setting rainfalls all weekend to find any evidence before it could be compromised by the rains.

Patterson’s disappearance elicited a remarkable public reaction.

When it became known that Patterson was missing, a number of search groups formed of their own volition to launch searches, from hunters – some of the Pattersons are well-known in the hunting community – ATVers, family members, to co-workers and even outright strangers – many keeping in touch via Internet discussion groups and social media, such as Facebook.

"We need all the eyes and ears we can get in these cases," Cameron said.

“The public help in this case was "crucial" since it was a civilian searcher who found the missing woman’s body, he said.

"Without them, we might still be looking for Sabrina Patterson. So to them, thank you."

The entire community mourns for Sabrina Patterson, said ATV Club president Tammi Steeves.

"I’m incredibly proud of our club. From our 527 members, we offer our prayers and our condolences to the Patterson family."

An autopsy was being performed late Sunday on Patterson’s body.