Episode 11: The Highway of Tears - Part 2

In this episode of Crime and Prayers, we continue our journey along Canada’s Highway of Tears, a stretch of British Columbia’s Highway 16 known for the tragic disappearances and murders of Indigenous women and girls. While Project E-PANA officially recognizes 18 victims, Indigenous communities believe the true number is much higher. These cases reflect not only the individual losses of life but also the systemic issues—poverty, lack of safe transportation, and racial injustice—that have placed Indigenous women at greater risk.

We share the lives and stories of nine women in this episode. Jean Mary Kovacs, a loving mother devoted to her family, vanished in 1974, leaving behind unanswered questions. Roswitha Fuchsbichler, a vibrant 13-year-old, was taken from her family by confessed killer Edward Dennis Isaac, who also admitted to killing Nina Marie Joseph, a kind and spirited woman with a promising future. Alberta Gail Williams, a generous 24-year-old, remains loved and missed by her family, who continue to fight for justice in her unsolved murder, as does the family of Cecilia Anne Nikal, a young woman whose disappearance in 1989 left a lasting void in her community.

We also explore the tragic stories of Marnie Blanchard, a 24-year-old remembered for her warm, caring nature; Teresa Umphrey, a joyful soul whose life was senselessly stolen; Delphine Nikal, a 16-year-old with a bright future who was last seen hitchhiking; and Ramona Wilson, a vibrant and compassionate 16-year-old whose life was cut short by unimaginable violence.

Each story reflects a life filled with love, potential, and connection, and each loss is a call to action for justice, awareness, and systemic change. These women were loved, and they matter.