Disappearance of Joanne Pedersen

Jo Anna "Joanne" Maria Pedersen disappeared on the evening of 19 February 1983 around 8:15 p.m. in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Disappearance: Pedersen, age 10, her 11-year old sister, and her 14-year old female cousin were walking home from a mall when an argument ensued between Pedersen and the two elder girls. Her sister and cousin ran to their house to lock Pedersen out of the house as a prank. When Pedersen eventually arrived, she tried for a few minutes to get in, but the girls did not open the door until Pedersen had already left. Pedersen decided to give up on trying to get into the house and instead went to a corner store close to her house with the intent to call her mother and step-father, who were at a Legion hall at the time, to pick her up. Pedersen tried to talk to an employee at the Penny Pinchers, a convenience store that was located at the corner of Watson Road and Vedder Road in Chilliwack, but the employee was busy with other customers. She resorted to using a payphone outside and dialed the number to the Legion hall and asked for her step-father. As Pedersen's parents arranged to pick her up, a man took the phone from Pedersen and told her parents that they had thirty minutes to pick up their daughter before he would call the police. Her parents made it to the location within the time frame, but by the time they were there Pedersen had vanished. Investigation: Witnesses reported seeing an adult male standing next to Pedersen at the location from where the call was made. The unidentified man was described as approximately 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, slim to medium build, light to dark colored hair that was below the ears, clean shaven, and wearing a dark or brown jacket. Witnesses also described a vehicle associated with the man, a two-door white or cream-colored domestic car from the early to mid-70s with a dark Landau roof. The man has been associated as a suspect, but Upper Fraser Valley police say it is possible that the man was initially trying to help Pedersen and urged him to come forward and talk to police to help with the investigation. Pedersen's mother, Angela Reilly, said in 2008 as a message to the man, "As a mother, I'm pleading with you to come forward. Please do that for me." Police believe the man is still somewhere in the Fraser Valley and aware of the media coverage. Chilliwack RCMP have received three anonymous letters since the 25th anniversary from a man who claims to be a witness to the events leading up to the disappearance of Pedersen. Police say it is imperative to identify this witness so they can speak with him. The investigation remains open.