A5

By KRIS MCDAVID
Canadaeast News Service

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ESGENOOPETITJ - Although the RCMP still won't say why, more than a dozen investigators continued to sift through an Esgenoopetitj First Nation property belonging to the uncle of missing teen Hilary Bonnell on Wednesday.

Enlarge Photo

Kris McDavid photo

Fred Fillier, second from left, Pamela Fillier and Boyd Bonnell, right, address the media in Esgenoopetitj on Wednesday. Pamela Fillier and Boyd Bonnell’s daughter Hilary went missing eight weeks ago.

The small, brown bungalow and adjacent trailer on the property located steps away from the convenience store where Hilary was last seen the morning she disappeared eight weeks ago was confirmed by Hilary's mother Pam Fillier as belonging to Joseph Christopher Bonnell, the brother of Hilary's father Boyd Bonnell and a band councillor in the community.

Police began their search of the property early Tuesday afternoon.

District 8 RCMP Insp. Roch Fortin confirmed that the search warrant being executed on the Esgenoopetitj (also known as Burnt Church) property also includes another property on the Cains Point Road outside of nearby Tabusintac.

Fortin stressed that he can't disclose whether the searches are connected to the missing 16-year-old or what prompted the investigation.

He did say that the investigation being carried out on the two properties is criminal in nature, but nobody has been arrested or detained.

"Both properties are under police custody and it's a very delicate, difficult process involved at the present time and we will take all of the necessary time to do our due diligence on this investigation," he said.

Fortin said he expected the investigation, which includes several forensic specialists, will likely continue for at least the next few days.

Two vehicles were seized from one of the properties Tuesday, and Fortin said one of those vehicles remains in police custody for "very close examination."

Flanked by her husband Fred and Hilary's father Boyd, Fillier issued a plea to the public to remain vigilant and keep their eyes open for anything that might help bring her daughter home.

"I'm not close to (Christopher Bonnell), so I'd rather really not comment on that," she said.

"All I can say is he's the owner of the house, but, again, it's not saying that Christopher Bonnell did something to my daughter."

Hilary Bonnell is five feet, five inches tall and weighs about 134 pounds.

She's aboriginal and has long black hair and dark brown eyes.