While John and Cindy Simpson continue to be told by RCMP that the search at the Sagmoen Farm is not related to their daughter Ashley鈥檚 disappearance, the discovery of the remains of Traci Genereaux has ramped up their sense of loss once again.
The couple, who have endured 18 months of waiting and wondering since Ashley went missing April 28, 2016, are facing the increasing likelihood that their daughter is dead.
鈥淥f course, I want her in one piece alive, but if it鈥檚 gotta be in a box, then so be it. We鈥檝e just gotta get her home,鈥� says John Simpson in an interview from Ontario.
His wife Cindy, says she feels certain that Ashley is no longer alive. She says in some ways the news of the search on the farm has left their family with divided hearts.
鈥淚n some ways you wish yes, or hope yes, that she will be found there, but you also pray no,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut in my heart I know she鈥檚 gone. All I want now is to bring her home, so our family can say a proper goodbye and know where her final resting place is.鈥�
Related Link: Missing woman鈥檚 father says investigation shifts to homicide
Cindy says this is the critical missing piece in the family鈥檚 grieving process.
鈥淩ight now, it is an open chapter until she is found. Once that happens, I think you can start a different stage of the grieving process and then the healing can start. Right now, healing is not even in our vocabulary.鈥�
Cindy says the RCMP have been keeping in communication with her and are standing by the information they have been given since the search began 鈥� this search is unrelated to Ashley鈥檚 case. Ashley was last seen on Yankee Flats Road, just one road over from Salmon River Road, where the Sagmoen Farm is located.
鈥淥f course they also tell us they aren鈥檛 ruling anything out at this point,鈥� Cindy says.
The couple鈥檚 emotions are also divided for the family of 18-year-old Traci Genereaux. On one hand, they feel sorrow for the confirmation of their loss, on the another this is information they are also desperately searching for.
鈥淚n what seems like a strange way, I鈥檓 happy for Traci鈥檚 parents, that they will come to some peace of mind,鈥� says Cindy. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 say it鈥檚 closure because I don鈥檛 believe there will ever really be closure for any family in a situation like this one, but now they have a chance to lay her to rest. That鈥檚 a big thing for me, not knowing where Ashley is.鈥�
Cindy says the scale of the search at the Sagmoen farm is bringing her some strange comfort.
鈥淎shley鈥檚 case is an open case and I know they (RCMP) are working on it. They have told us that all along. But to see how thoroughly they are doing their jobs in Silver Creek, that鈥檚 comforting to see that those are the resources they will put out there when they get the information they need to go on. That鈥檚 reassuring whether this case involves Ashley or not.鈥�
John has spent much of the last 18 months keeping his daughter鈥檚 case in the public eye, and trying to draw awareness to the issue of missing and murdered women in Canada. He鈥檚 participating in charity walks and vigils, and rarely do a few days go by without him donning a t-shirt with his daughter鈥檚 picture on it to ensure her face is visible.
Related Link: Ashley Simpson鈥檚 father returns to find her
鈥淲e need the community, the government and the police to all join together and demand the investment of resources in these cases. There鈥檚 just too many families living without answers.鈥�
He says he keeps this up because he is certain his daughter would have wanted that.
鈥淥ne thing I can do is try to have people sit up and take notice. Maybe it will help her case, or maybe someone else鈥檚.鈥�
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