The estranged husband of Jennifer Hillier-Penney has been charged with first-degree murder in her disappearance.
Fifty-year-old Dean Penney was arrested Friday in Deer Lake and made his first court appearance this afternoon by teleconference in Corner Brook.
He’s due to appear in person before a judge on Monday afternoon.
The RCMP delivered the news late this morning during a news conference at their headquarters in St. John’s.
They say they updated the family of Hillier-Penney prior to the public release, and clarified that her remains have still not been found.
Hillier-Penney was 38 when she was last seen at Dean Penney’s house on Husky Drive in St. Anthony on Nov. 30, 2016.
RCMP believe she disappeared shortly after arriving at Penney’s home that night, but they had never publicly named a suspect.
Hillier-Penney had been living with her father but was in the process of separating from her husband. She was at Dean Penney’s house that day with her youngest daughter while Penney was hunting at his cabin in nearby Northwest Arm.
Hillier-Penney had reportedly removed Dean Penney from her life insurance policy two weeks before her disappearance, leaving her two daughters as the sole beneficiaries.
“Seven years of investigative diligence have brought us to this point,” said Insp. Tracy Edwards. “From the beginning, our goal has been to get answers for Jennifer’s loved ones and to bring anyone responsible for her disappearance to justice. On behalf of the RCMP, I extend deepest condolences to Jennifer’s family and friends.”
Edwards also spoke to the length of time that has passed since the disappearance.
“We acknowledge that seven years is a long time to go without answers,” she said. “The anguish felt by Jennifer’s loved ones and the community was always top of mind as we worked our way through a complex investigation that began with ruling out all reasonable explanations for Jennifer’s disappearance and then moving to identifying the person criminally responsible.
“These investigations take time, cannot be rushed and must be pursued with diligence and a commitment to investigative excellence.”
Edwards also made the direct connection between the case and intimate partner violence.
“This significant update comes, coincidentally, just after the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.,” she said. “This type of violence can take many forms; physical, sexual, emotional and psychological. It knows no social, economic or geographical boundaries.
“The RCMP encourages anyone who feels unsafe or uncertain about their safety to reach out to police and community organizations for support and assistance.”
In Newfoundland and Labrador, there is a province-wide Domestic Violence Help Line, 1-888-709-7090, which is also text enabled. Callers can access assistance and connection with services in their area.
