Winnipeg family noting sombre anniversary

The family of a slain young Winnipeg woman is marking the dark anniversary of her still-unsolved killing.

The body of Hillary Angel Wilson,18, was found Aug. 20, 2009 on a dirt path in a sparsely populated area in East St. Paul, just northeast of the city limits. While RCMP are treating her death as a homicide, they have never released how she was killed.

Her family said Thursday that she was killed by "a senseless act of violence."

Wilson will be remembered Friday at a memorial feast at the Thunderbird House starting at 3 p.m., her family said, who added they will spend the morning in private to grieve their loss.

After that, a march, dubbed the "Justice for Hillary Memorial Walk" will take place at 5:30 p.m.

The march begins at Selkirk Avenue and McKenzie Street, the place that Wilson was last seen alive.

The route will travel down Salter Street to the Manitoba legislature. The family will address those gathered there to talk about Wilson's life, followed by a candlelight vigil.

"There are many grieving families out there who want answers and have closure for their loved one," the family said in an emailed statement.

"For Hillary's murder, no one has been charged or arrested yet. Our hope and prayer is that soon someone will be held accountable for her death and there will be justice."

A few days after Wilson died, the province, Winnipeg police and RCMP announced a joint task-force to examine cases of murdered and missing women in the province.

About six weeks before Wilson was found, the body of her friend, Cherisse Houle, 17, was uncovered by a construction crew working near the shore of Sturgeon Creek in the Rural Municipality of Rosser.

Police have not ruled her death a homicide and are still investigating.