Fred Hawkins says every time he visits the picnic area outside of Rockwood on Highway 7 he feels the presence of an unidentified woman whose remains were found there three years ago.
He said a new memorial plaque at the site will not only help recognize the woman, but he hopes it will also jog someone’s memory so that one day she can be identified.
Hawkins, Grand Knight with the Rockwood chapter of the Knights of Columbus, led a commemoration service on July 19 for the plaque, which was installed two weeks ago.
The plaque implores readers to “Please pray for the soul of an unidentified woman whose remains were found at this location on Aug. 28, 2005.”
The local Knights of Columbus covered half the price for the memorial stone, while manufacturer Farnworth Superior Memorials covered the other half.
Pastor Pablito Labado, of Rockwood’s Sacred Heart Church, blessed the stone during the commemoration service, which was attended by about 40 people. Local retired Pastor Gord Strongitharms also led a prayer, and Hawkins’ wife, Lorna, read a poem she wrote in memory of the unidentified woman.
OPP Detective Constable Paul Johnson, the man in charge of the investigation, told the crowd he continues to receive weekly tips about the case, but so far none have panned out.
He said he, too, hopes the plaque will one day lead to police solving the case.
Johnson said the woman is described as Caucasian, 25 to 45 years old, five feet four inches to five feet six inches, about 130 pounds with medium length brown hair, and she may have been homeless.
Police said she wore an upper dental plate with two teeth, and had previous injuries including a broken nose and left eye socket and a fractured rib.
Johnson said anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Mount Forest OPP detachment at 519-323-3130, or call the missing persons or unidentified bodies line at 1-877-934-6363 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
