‘It’s killing us’: Vigil remembers the life of Maple Ridge woman

When asked to describe the impact that the disappearance of her friend Jessica Cunningham is having on her and other friends and family, Krissy Rasko is blunt.

“It’s killing us,” Rasko says.

Human remains were discovered recently at the Maple Ridge home of Cunningham, who went missing in June, and on Monday police confirmed that DNA found at the scene were indeed Cunningham’s.

On Sunday, Sept. 7, Rasko organized a vigil outside of Cunningham’s home in the 22800 block of Gillis Place.

There, Rasko, friends, and neighbours lit candles and placed them and flowers on front of a photo of Cunningham, a 43-year-old resident, originally from Vancouver Island.

Neighbours spoke to The Ridge about what a peaceful neighbourhood it is and how shocking the disappearance is for everyone.

“It’s a lot for our community to process,” said one neighbourhood, who didn’t want her name used.

Rasko was in tears during most of the vigil, devastated by what has happened. Rasko met Cunningham about 14 years ago when she left an abusive relationship and came to Metro Vancouver from Edmonton.

Rasko got a job at Red Robin and still remembers meeting Cunningham on that first day.

“There on that first shift she came up and asked, ‘Who are you?’ and introduced herself,” Rasko remembers. “There was an instant connection.”

Cunningham helped Rasko break free of the abusive relationship, something that meant a lot to her.

“She had the biggest heart,” Rasko said. “She saved me from something terrible. She was there for me and I wish I could have been there for her for whatever happened.”

A flood of people have commented on a Facebook page dedicated to Cunningham and her life.

“I met Jess when I was only 18 – we instantly clicked despite there being an eight-year age gap between us,” wrote Heather Linge. “She was someone I looked up to when I was barely an adult; she showed me what true confidence was and that it was always okay to stand up for yourself. … I’ll never forget her infectious laugh or her amazing singing.”

Criminality is suspected in the case, said IHIT, but police aren’t offering any kind of motive.

Rasko told everyone at the vigil that while they don’t know what happened, she wanted to speak out about intimate partner violence to spread a message that people need to get more involved in helping others.

“Don’t be silent,” Rasko said. “The silence is what is killing us.”

On Aug. 27, the BC Prosecution Service laid a charge of indignity to human remains against Mylie Barron in relation to this investigation. At this time, he remains in custody.

Based on initial information, Cunningham was last seen in June. She was reported missing in July and the Ridge Meadows RCMP began a missing persons investigation and have been actively working to locate her.

Investigators are working to understand the circumstances surrounding Cunningham’s disappearance, said Staff Sgt. David Lee, IHIT media relations officer. Investigators are releasing her name and photo and seeking assistance to build a timeline of her activity leading up to the missing persons report.

IHIT is responsible for investigating homicides, suspicious deaths, and high-risk missing persons where criminality is suspected.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation can call the IHIT information line 1-877-551-IHIT (4448).

Rasko is urging people to learn more about what abuse is and how it should be reported to the proper authorities.

“Abuse is behaviour used to intimidate, isolate, dominate or control another person,” reads a post on a provincial health website. “It may be a pattern of behaviour or it may be a single incident. Abusive behaviour might involve acts or words or even neglect. Abuse happens when someone hurts or mistreats you. Abuse can happen to anyone: someone in a family or someone in a dating relationship, a spouse or former spouse, a partner in an intimate relationship or former partner, a child, young person, or older person. The abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial. You may experience more than one type of abuse.”

The next step is reporting abuse. VictimLinkBC is a toll-free, confidential and multilingual service. Call or text 1-800-563-0808.