In 2005, a woman from British Columbia was discovered deceased near Rockwood, Ontario. Recent police statements indicate that she likely visited a Midland mall and a truck stop in Mississauga before her death, as authorities seek new leads in the cold case.
Tammy Eileen Penner, identified in 2024 as a missing 41-year-old from Chilliwack, B.C., was found under a Woods-brand sleeping bag at a rest area off Highway 7 between Guelph and Rockwood on August 28, 2005. It was determined that she had been moved a short distance into the woods approximately a month before her remains were located. Penner was not carrying identification or wearing jewelry, but investigators believe her clothing, including black shorts, a beige tank top, white underwear, and a peach-colored bra, was purchased in the Montreal area.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Penner was last spotted at a mall in Midland, Ontario, on June 30, 2005, during her journey from B.C. Additionally, it is suspected that a transport truck driver dropped her off at a now-closed Husky Truck Stop on Highway 401 and Dixie Road in Mississauga around July 30, 2005. Descriptions suggest she may have been wearing a beige tank top, black corduroy fabric shorts, and carrying a blue sleeping bag near a cream- or beige-colored transport truck.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Penner’s whereabouts during that period to contact the Wellington County OPP. Detective Inspector Randy Gaynor emphasized the importance of coming forward with any details, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to aid in solving the case and providing closure to Penner’s family.
Penner was reported missing to the RCMP on February 7, 2005, having resided in Chilliwack and Abbotsford before her disappearance. While the cause of her death remains undetermined, investigators view it as suspicious. Evidence suggests that prior to her passing, Penner had suffered injuries to her left cheek, nose, and left eye socket, which had since healed.
A breakthrough in the investigation occurred in August 2024 when advanced DNA testing by Texas forensic lab Othram revealed Penner’s identity. Othram’s technology was praised for its ability to provide certainty in forensic cases involving human remains, enabling the identification of individuals even after many years.
The Rockwood Knights of Columbus previously established a memorial at the rest area where Penner’s body was discovered, which is now maintained by a member of the public as a tribute to her memory.