Family of missing Maple Ridge woman to hold vigil after human remains found

The family of a woman from Maple Ridge who was reported missing in July will gather at her home for a vigil Sunday night, a week after human remains were found in the house.

Homicide investigators still haven’t confirmed the identity of the remains, but the partner of 43-year-old Jessica Cunningham has been arrested and charged with indignity to human remains.

Cunningham’s friend Kristin Rasko says all her loved ones have been sick with worry and sadness over the news, particularly because they don’t even know if the remains belong to her.

“There’s so much uneasiness, there’s so much unrest. We’re exhausted,” Rasko said.

“I can’t imagine that anybody who knew her can sleep right now just thinking about this. I can’t. I haven’t been able to sleep more than 15, 20 minutes since Thursday.”

Rasko says she initially found out Cunningham was missing when she saw it on the news.

Cunningham was last seen in June and reported missing in July. Mylie Barron is facing those charges of indignity to human remains, but police can’t share much more about the investigation, including how long the remains have been in the house and whether they think there is any link to intimate partner violence in this case.

Court records show Barron is due in Port Coquitlam court on Sept. 26 for a bail hearing, and that interim bail was denied at his previous appearance.

The vigil is scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

— With files from The Canadian Press.