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Jodi Henrickson Missing: Teen Wall of Silence Plagues Police
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by Tina Kells | July 1, 2009 at 03:57 pm
1993 views | 17 Recommendations | 22 comments
Jodi Henrickson has been missing for nearly two weeks. The 17-year old Squamish girl went missing June 20, 2009 from Bowen Island where she had gone to visit “friends.” Her family reported her missing on June 24, 2009 when she did not return home from Bowen Island as planned. Prior to that Jodi’s family had no idea anything was wrong.
I put the words “friends” in quotation marks because through my adult eyes I question what kind of people would do nothing about another person’s absence for four whole days. If Jodi Henrickson were indeed with friends shouldn’t they have noticed when she just disappeared... for four days? Shouldn’t they have looked for her, called her family, called police?
Sea to Sky Regional Police General Investigation Section have been searching the island, a 20-minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay, since June 24, when she was first reported missing.
Members of the RCMP's air, marine and police dogs teams are participating in the search, as is North Shore Search and Rescue.
Anyone who has information or was at the party is asked to call the RCMP's tip line at: 604-947-0516.
Why did it take four days for anybody on Bowen Island to report Jodi Henrickson missing? Could the fact that Bowen Island is the home of Jodi’s ex-boyfriend Gavin Arnott, an ex who was subject to a restraining order after being found guilty of assaulting her, have anything to do with the wall of silence? Police have openly stated that they are having trouble getting Bowen Island teens to cooperate with the investigation... why?
The ex-boyfriend of 17-year-old Jodi Henrickson, missing for 10 days, was ordered by the court to stay away from her as part of his probation after he was convicted of assaulting her.
According to court documents, 20-year-old Gavin Arnott was convicted of assaulting Henrickson on April 8.
Arnott, a Bowen Island resident, was sentenced June 5 to 18 months probation, and one of the conditions was that he have no contact with Henrickson.
Henrickson, a Squamish resident, was last seen around dawn on Bowen Island after attending several house parties on June 20.
RCMP confirmed Arnott was at one of those parties but would not go into details about their interaction.
From what police have been able to gather Jodi was last seen on June 20, 2009 after party hopping on Bowen Island. Gavin Arnott was at one of the parties and despite the restraining order against him there was some interaction between the pair. Police have not commented on the nature of that interaction, they have only confirmed that the two were seen together.
The last known description of Jodi Henrickson was offered by police after she was reported missing, and friends have started a Facebook Group in her honor. Ironically, Gavin Arnott is a member of that group.
Jodi Henrickson Facebook Group
She is described as small and slim with long brown hair wearing a black leather jacket, blue jeans, and carrying a large black purse. Her brother described her as a sociable, energetic teenager who was happy at home where she lived with her parents.
By all reports there is no chance that Jodi Henrickson ran away. Police have confirmed that they have no reason to believe Jodi ever left Bowen Island. Some residents have cooperated with investigators and many of the homes that hosted parties have been opened to investigators. The wall of silence is not coming from the adults on Bowen Island; it is coming from the teens.
The Bowen teens are apparently harboring ill feelings over police actions in breaking up a party three weeks ago and are unwilling to talk. The immaturity that is keeping these kids from talking is nothing short of criminal; anybody who knows anything about Jodi has no good excuse not to talk, no matter how much police annoyed them in the past.
Getting teenagers from the party to come forward could prove difficult, said local pub owner Scott Witty, explaining that another house party that was broken up by the RCMP three weeks ago led to some hard feelings.
"There's a lot of mistrust between the kids and the RCMP," he said.
The way the teens are remaining silent and the excuses they are using of “not trusting police” remind me of another sad case of people doing nothing, the 1997 killing of Bob McIntosh in Squamish. The sick wall of silence over that incident in the Squamish community persists to this day even though the teens involved have all since grown up. How they continue to live with themselves I will never understand.
It was nearly five years ago that McIntosh, a popular lawyer and triathlete, walked over to the home of his friend, Dr. Richard Cudmore. Cudmore was away and had asked McIntosh to keep an eye on his house and his sons, particularly the older boy, Jamie.
When McIntosh entered the house, he was punched unconscious by another young man, Ryan MacMillan. Aldridge then kicked McIntosh to death. The blows to his head were so hard that boot prints were found on the victim's skull.
After that, the community fell silent, despite the fact that there were more than 100 people at the party. Aldridge wasn't arrested until this summer in an RCMP sting operation.
Outside the courthouse Wednesday, McIntosh's widow discussed the wall of silence that surrounded the case from the very beginning.
It took five years for justice to reign in the McIntosh murder. Even though a conviction has been won in the Bob McIntosh murder it does not exonerate those who remained (and remain) silent. There is, and always will be, blood on their hands. I hope Jodi's family gets the answers they need much sooner than five years later.
Somebody on Bowen Island knows something; that much we can all be sure of. Just as many people knew what had happened to Bob McIntosh in Squamish, some of the people on Bowen Island are not in the dark. Hopefully somebody there will do the right thing and speak up; as the saying goes “evil prospers when good men do nothing.”
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (22)
at 22:25 on July 1st, 2009
I really wish everyone in that Facebook group and anyone who interacted with Jodi before she went missing were forced to read this.
at 11:57 on July 2nd, 2009
we can only hope for a happy ending
at 18:52 on July 3rd, 2009
So what if, as has been in many cases I've seen, the "assault" was nothing more than an altercation which the girl took to the ninth degree by contacting police in an attempt to "get even" for a prior emotional hurt, what if Mr. Arnott had no control over the girl coming onto the island where he lives and visiting a house party where he could have already been with friends, what if he still considered her a friend, and what if the girl had a prior history of running away? How do you think that Mr. Arnott would feel after reading all the above.
Think about it. . . . .
at 18:56 on July 3rd, 2009
None of what you suppose is based in fact, she has absolutely NO history of running away and HE was convicted in a court of law. Frankly, his feelings matter less than her safety at this point.
at 09:32 on July 4th, 2009
Of course you are right - the only fact is that she is missing. But people are pretty quick to fry the Arnott guy in print based on what they read. He may deserve being lambasted for making poor decisions, but I'm not so sure he deserves to have to go thru this if he's not responsible for her being missing.
BTW - There are people who will tell you that the girl stayed with them when she has run off in the past. Fact? Who knows - seems pretty fatual to me. Newsworthy? If the papers continue to want to print conjecture which is all they've done to date - then absolutely.
Other than her being reunited with her folks, I hope for only two things. If foul play was involved, that the perpetrator be subjected to making good for all the time, effort, costs, emotional trauma and damages that have resulted.
If she comes back and was gone of her own accord, that she be subject to the same punishment. Fair is fair. Right?
at 08:11 on August 5th, 2009
It does matter how anything other than police seem to be frying this Arnold Benett guy. He could be a perfectly innocent person, who is now probably being bombarded by emails of people he doesn't know, who could be thinking it was him and seriously insult him. Things that aren't fact like bombarding him on a website could be dangerous to him. However, police do need to take in all facts when it comes to this case, and anything as serious as what happened between her and this Arnold guy needs to be examined. I mean c'mon, this is a 17 year old girl missing! If he is just as adamant about finding her as everbody else, then it wont matter to him that they are involving him in their questions, and in doing so, questioning. He should be perfectly fine, answering their questions, because in doing so, it could possibly bring them closer to finding her. And these teenagers who aren't talking? They seriously need to grow up and start giving the police some information. What does it matter if the police ruined one of their parties three weeks ago, this is the life of one of their friends we're talking about here! They need to start talking. I don't want to see another young face 3years later on a missing poster ad, while walking down the street. It's heartbreaking.
at 05:37 on July 4th, 2009
Praying for Jodi, praying for her family. May light totaly shine into and on this case and nothing be hidden in the darkness. To bad those 'kids' are clamming up simply becasue a partywas broken up. Yikes...having parties that need to be broken up are NOT a right. How self centered. How sad and dangerous this al lis. May justice reign and be sure and quick in this situation.
May Jodi be found safe and sound.
at 12:05 on July 4th, 2009
Jodis Mom wrote a letter on the facebook page dedicated to finding her;
at 12:02 on July 6th, 2009
So now it comes out that Jodi HAS run away in the past. Gee. Go figure . . . . Guess we can't ALWAYS trust those who form an opinion and then publish their take on it, can we?
at 17:12 on July 7th, 2009
wow all i can say is some of you need to grow a heart me being someone who is actually from squamish, her home town, i sincerely feel bad for her family this isnt like jodi as many of you im sure would like to think grow up people you were once a teenager were not as messed up as you may think she has been missing for over ten days now without a single connection with anyone in squamish we dont always do things for attention we may not be as delusional as you once were i dont get where you are coming from saying that she should be punished if she were just to be hiding.. yeah right over 10 days of "hiding" think again there are some pretty messed up people in this world and we can only hope that none of them got to her i know you all have your own opinion but really open up your heart and my question is why are you wishing that everyone is this facebook group to help find her read this? so they can be reminded of the loss they are facing and the negitive comments people are posting?
at 22:17 on July 7th, 2009
The only negativity I can see is the unprecedented witch-hunt trashing of this Mr. Arnott. Would have been nice if people weren't so quick to toast him. And comments like "she has absolutely NO history of running away" are simply misguided and help to perpetuate an opinion that it is all Mr. Arnotts fault and stht Jodi bears no fault of her own. That may be the case, or it may not. Clearly, we all hope that she re-appears and has suffered no ill will. However, if she has left on her own accord and left Mr. Arnott to fry, I have a difficult time accepting that her actions should be buried in the "i'm glad she's home" frenzy. No ill respect is meant for Jodi, just equal treatment would be perhaps a good start. BTW - The assault was because she tore up her ex's apartment throwing a monitor etc and he ejected her from the premises. Life always has two sides and when people like Ms. Kells use their channels to advance their emotional agenda by speaking mis-truths, that should rub all of us wrong. Interesting that some prior posts have mysteriously disappeared.
at 08:17 on August 5th, 2009
WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE SAYING THAT ABOUT SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW! BY SAYING THAT ABOUT THE ASSAULT, YOU ARE TELLING A RUMOUR! NOBODY NEEDS RUMOURS, THEY NEED FACTS. AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN GIVE FACTS ARE THE POLICE AND HER FRIENDS. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO POST SOMETHING LIKE SO PUBLICLY ON A WEBSITE! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT, AT ALL
at 08:18 on August 5th, 2009
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE SAYING THAT ABOUT SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW! BY SAYING THAT ABOUT THE ASSAULT, YOU ARE TELLING A RUMOUR! NOBODY NEEDS RUMOURS, THEY NEED FACTS. AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN GIVE FACTS ARE THE POLICE AND HER FRIENDS. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO POST SOMETHING LIKE SO PUBLICLY ON A WEBSITE! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT, AT ALL
at 08:23 on August 5th, 2009
To: CodFish
Who do you think you are saying that about someone you don’t know! By saying that about the assault. You are telling a rumour! Nobody needs rumours, they need facts! And the only people who can give facts are the police, family and friends. What makes you think you have the right to post something like that publicly on a website! You have no right, at all.
at 21:40 on July 30th, 2009
jodi never ran away. like me she was left to make the dessision to leave. she did. as i did. she came to my house right away. she went to her boyfriends for not 3 monthes but for 2 weeks. you dont know her stay out of it. unless you are actually helping.
codfish your an idiot.
at 20:41 on August 1st, 2009
WOW I can not believe the what I have read tonight. She obviously was NOT with friends on the Island, if she had been someone would have spoke out about her missing and someone would be speaking now.
I hope the RCMP continue to break up the parties and bust anyone allowing the kids to drink on their property and anyone providing these teens with achohol. I hope these teens keeping their loyalty to the "wall of silence" never find peace and have guilt and nightmares. And damn well pray when they grow up and have children of their own and one of them goes missing that this "wall of silence" has been torn down.
If something horrible has happened to this girl, maybe the parents of these teen partying should reconsidering letting their teenage girls out, because if it's happened to one then it will probably happen to another. If they are sure that it won't happen you can be sure that there is a reason no one is concerned.
Someone knows something and it is just sick that NO ONE is talking. What if it was your child? What if it was your sister? What if it was your bestfriend?
What I have read tonight sounds like the making of a truely sick movie and the community and it's parents and teens should be ashamed at their loyalty to this "Wall of Silence"
at 08:24 on August 5th, 2009
To: CodFish
Who do you think you are saying that about someone you don’t know! By saying that about the assault. You are telling a rumour! Nobody needs rumours, they need facts! And the only people who can give facts are the police, family and friends. What makes you think you have the right to post something like that publicly on a website! You have no right, at all.
at 14:11 on August 14th, 2009
Lilypetal you truly are an idiot..anyone can say whatever they please and yes they DO have the right to..you are not the police of what people can or cannot say so get over yourself.
Lynne Fedorick Gavins mother should be ashamed of herself for so publicly trashing this missing young woman..as if the girl's family is not hurting enough..she is trying to shift blame off of her son and blame the victim..shame on you Lynne..what a lousy mother you are and I have no doubt your son is involved
at 14:14 on August 14th, 2009
Codfish=Lynne Fedorick..only she would be so hateful towards Jodi and try to take the eyes off of her wayward son Gavin as a suspect in this case
at 18:00 on August 28th, 2009
I grew up in Squamish and graduated Howe Sound Secondary in 1998. I had heard of the New Years party that Jamie threw, but did not attend. I think the kids in these small town situations are pathetic & cowards. Kids attempting to be adults, a case of blind leading blind. My question to the people that are staying silent in Jodi's case; "Would you want people to stay silent if something happend to you?" But I would assume these are empty words for those staying silent. I don't have any expectations for a reaction and will look for none. I hope the family of Jodi the best of luck in trying to break through these mentalities of not wanting to do whats right. The herd mentality of society of not chooseing other peoples paths but your own. My thoughts are with the family.
at 23:46 on September 4th, 2009
I really would like to set something straight.I am a youth from Bowen Island, and the reason that there is unrest between the youth and the RCMP is not because a party got broken up. Anyone who has ever been to a house party understands that will happen now and again, and life goes on. Where that information came from, I have no clue, but it is clearly false and the fabricator should be ashamed. The true reason is that there have been many incidents in the recent past involving an officer named Don Sutherland.Bowen has experienced much trajedy lately. In the first two weeks of June, 4 people died, and Jodi dissapeared. I do not by any means wish to undermine the gravity of that situation. One of these deaths was a young man named Lance, in his 20's, who had a skateboarding accident. While a group of my friends were at the site of death, where they had created a shrine/memorial of sorts for Lance, Don Sutherland showed up, and started making extremely insensitive comments such as (these are not exact quotes, but as accurate as my memory can be) "How long do you guys think this little thing is going to be here, huh?" "Clearly none of you guys care that your friend is dead." "You know, had he been wearing a helmet, he wouldn't be dead" and other insensitive comments insinuating that the Bowen Island youth are a bunch of insensitive pricks who are happy to stand infront of the grave of a friend.Another one of those deaths was an amazing young man named Aaron Slugget, age 19, whom I was blessed to know personally. He was one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He died in a car accident. The morning after the accident, Officer Sutherland showed up at one of my friends houses, where 3 girls were, clearly upset, obviously crying, and burst in the door without permission, and started yelling things such as (once again this is not a perfect, direct quote) "You guys don't care at all that your friend is dead." "This is your fault"Later that day, at Aaron's house, he took asided a group of my friends and I, asking if he could talk with us. He continued to make himself look like an ass, and then said this,"You know who put your friend in a white fucking body bag? Me. And you know where he went? To a cold lonely cell in a fucking morgue."He said this to a group of teenagers who had just experienced the loss of a best friend only hours ago, many of them never having experienced the death of a close friend before. And these are only the incidents I can remember accurately.Not to mention, last I checked, no one is holding back any information about Jodi. No one has seen or heard anything of her, and if we had, we would have told someone. We may be young and make mistakes, but we are not going to purposefully put someone's life in danger. Shame for listening to unreliable sources, and double shame for believing that rumour just because they are youth, and of course teenagers are "untrustworthy, liars, stealers, drug-users, etc." The youth of Bowen Island know too much loss to just stand by and let this kind of stuff happen. We are a community, and we do as much as we can to help our peers.I hope you think about what I have said, and realise that all of this is first-hand knowledge, although the quotes are not perfect because I did not electronically or physically record Don's words.
at 16:05 on September 8th, 2009
Gavin and his mother are disgusting trailer trash!