GUELPH-ERAMOSA: Over 21 years since a woman was found deceased near Rockwood, police have renewed their appeal for information about her last known sighting.
On Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005, Wellington County OPP responded to a report of human remains located in a wooded rest area on Highway 7, between Rockwood and Guelph.
Thanks to investigative genetic genealogy the woman was identified in April 2024 as 41-year-old Tammy Eileen Penner of of Chilliwack, B.C.
When police attended the scene in 2005 Penner was covered with a ‘Woods’ brand sleeping bag and was wearing clothes purchased in the Montreal area.
Wellington County OPP believe her body was dragged into the wooded area approximately one month before she was located.
Police have not determined an official cause of Penner’s death, but it has been deemed suspicious.
She had been living between Chilliwack and Abbotsford before traveling to Ontario; On June 30, 2005, Penner attended the Midland Mall in Midland, just North of Barrie.
Penner was reported missing to the RCMP on Feb. 7, 2005.
Police said on or around Saturday, July 30, 2005, a transport truck driver may have dropped her off at the now closed Husky Truck Stop on Highway 401 and Dixie Road in Mississauga.
According to police Penner was seen close to a cream or beige-coloured transport truck shortly after being dropped off.
She may have been wearing a beige tank top with black corduroy fabric shorts and carrying a blue sleeping bag. Investigators are asking anyone who saw Tammy during this time or has information about her movements to contact police.
In a press release Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) detective inspector Randy Gaynor said despite the genetic discovery there are still many unanswered questions.
“We’re asking anyone who remembers seeing Tammy to please come forward, no matter how insignificant the information may seem,” Gaynor said, “her family has waited many years for answers and our investigative team remains committed to uncovering the truth and providing them with resolution.”
The Wellington County OPP is conducting the investigation, under the direction of the OPP CIB, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
Anyone with information in relation to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
The Rockwood Knights of Columbus created a memorial in honour of Penner | OPP Photo
