A body discovered in a Prince George gravel pit earlier this week has been identified as a missing mother.
Jill Stacey Stuchenko, 35, was reported missing by friends and family October 22. They had not seen her for up to four weeks and had started distributing posters in the community. Prince George RCMP released a public appeal for information about her whereabouts a day later.
"Due to her lifestyle the family and friends decided it was too long for her to be missing," Const. Gary Godwin told ctvbc.ca Saturday.
Stuchenko's body was found Wednesday in an area on the northwest outskirts of the city. Police say she had likely been there seven to 10 days, and are asking residents to report any suspicious activity in the area during that time.
Godwin said Stuchenko had six children, all of whom reside in provincial ministry care.
Stuchenko, who worked as an escort for several years, was well known to police in the area because of her drug use, but well-liked.
"She's a very pretty girl," Godwin said. "She wasn't really hard. She was really nice to talk to."
Pathology results from an autopsy released Friday suggest the mother did not die of natural causes. Her death is now being treated as suspicious but the cause of death is not being released.
The area her body was found is well known for hiking and bush parties, Godwin said, although the colder weather keeps people away in the late fall and winter. A passing hiker discovered her remains.
Despite tracks of residential housing backing onto the meadow and gravel pit on Otway Road, Godwin told ctvbc.ca there is little reason for the community to be concerned.
"I think this is an isolated case because of her high risk lifestyle," he said.
"It's very tragic."
