Hundreds attend Sunday vigil for missing B.C. teen Jessica Patrick

SMITHERS, B.C. – More than 200 people gathered in a northern British Columbia community to show their support for the family of a teen who vanished in late August.

Smithers RCMP have said 18-year-old Jessica Patrick, also known as Jessica Balczer, was last seen at a Smithers motel on Aug. 31 and was reported missing three days later.

Many of those attending Sunday’s vigil wore red as a tribute to Patrick and to honour other missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Patrick is a young mother and a member of the Lake Babine First Nation.

The vigil was held just hours after Smithers RCMP, the North District Major Crime Unit and the BC Coroners Service confirmed they are investigating the discovery of human remains near Smithers.

RCMP have not released any other details or officially identified the remains. (CJFW)

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version had an incorrect name for Jessica Patrick in the headline.