Today marks the 5th anniversary of a missing persons’ case that has haunted the entire province.
24-year-old Cortney Lake went missing on June 7, 2017. Following a call for surveillance or dash cam footage from the Mount Pearl area where she lived, a video emerged from Michener Avenue showing the young mother getting into a pick up truck matching the description of one belonging to her former boyfriend who was identified by police as a person of interest in the case.
In October of 2017, the RNC confirmed that Lake’s disappearance was being investigated as a homicide. In November, Lake’s former boyfriend, Philip Smith was found dead in the Bellevue Beach area. Two weeks later police confirmed that Smith was the only suspect in the young woman’s death.
Family and police have repeated their plea for information that may lead to the discovery of Lake’s remains.
Each year vigils and remembrance services, often featuring the colour purple which was Lake’s favourite colour, have been held.
A special bench will be unveiled today at 3:30 p.m. on Jane’s Pond Walking Trail in Marystown in her memory.
The RNC says the investigation remains open and active and they’re asking anyone who may have information or who may encounter anything odd or out of place while out and about to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
RNC Constable James Cadigan says while extensive searches have been carried out by police, volunteers and the community, they don’t want to pinpoint any specific area of interest since evidence could be located anywhere. He’s asking anyone who thinks they may have information to contact the RNC or Crime Stoppers.
