Man last seen with girl abducted in Chilliwack 40 years ago recently ruled out as suspect

Today marks 40 years since 10-year-old Joanne Pedersen disappeared in Chilliwack.

Around 8:15 on Feb. 19, 1983, Pedersen called her parents from a phone booth to get a ride home from a Penny Pinchers store. But she was gone when they arrived, never to be seen or heard from again.

Police had been trying to identify a man who witnesses observed standing in the phone booth with the young girl before she vanished.

“Over the years, pleas to the public have been made to identify an unknown male seen in the phone booth with Joanne prior to her disappearance,” according to a media release from the Chilliwack RCMP. “Recently police were able to identify this male and rule him out as a suspect, his identity will not be shared with the public at this time.”

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Nevertheless, police in Chilliwack are still trying to solve the mystery.

“The investigation into Joanne’s disappearance has never stopped and continues to be actively pursued,” Cpl. Carmen Kiener said in the release. “This is still an active investigation and any tips received from the public are being follow-up with by investigators… we are still hopeful we can provide answers for Joanne’s family.”

Anybody with information that can help with the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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