Mother of missing Duncan, B.C. girl links dispute with father to mask mandate in schools
The mother of a missing Duncan, B.C., girl says she fears for her daughter’s safety while the RCMP reiterate the girl is not in danger.
Roget Hall identifies herself as the mother of Violet Bennett, 7, who was reported missing to North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP on Sunday. The RCMP believe she’s with her father, Jesse Bennett, 36.
“Due to mask mandates, her father wishes to pull her out of school, something I have refused to do,” Hall said in a statement to CTV News.
“Me and Jesse have never gotten along," she added. "We have different views and opinions on many subjects, but we both agree on one thing and that’s our love for Violet.”
Hall said she’s only seen her daughter a handful of times since October, despite sharing custody with her father.
“Unfortunately, our previous court order was not police-enforceable. I knew she was safe in Duncan with him, and so I went through the right court channels to get her back,” she said.
The RCMP said a joint custody agreement in the Victoria Family Law Court on Jan. 20 determined Jesse had to return Violet to her mother immediately. Police have been unable to contact him since.
“I have no idea where she is, if she’s OK, if she’s even with him,” Hall wrote. “As a mother, I don’t know how to handle this situation. I feel shattered, broken, numb to everything.”
RCMP have spoken with people who know Jesse and do not believe Violet is in danger based on those conversations.
“At this point, we don’t have any information to suggest that… Jesse would hurt her, which would be the criteria for issuing an amber alert,” Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet told CTV News.
“We’re following up on some banking information, looking at social media, talking to anybody who might have seen Jesse or have information about where he may or not be going with Violet," Shoihet said.
Police are investigating potential sightings of the pair, she added.
Jesse Bennett is described as a white man who stands 5' 10" tall and weighs roughly 160 pounds. He has blue eyes, a brown beard, a bald head, and may be wearing a hat.
Violet Bennett is described as a white girl who stands 4' tall and weighs 50 to 60 pounds. She has blue eyes and curly hair.
“Violet is the sweetest, most caring, beautiful child. She loves to climb trees, swim in any body of water, play, collect rocks, do arts and crafts,” Hall said. “She’s very wild by nature and has no issues having dirt under her nails.”
Anyone with information on Jesse or Violet's whereabouts is asked to contact their local police, or North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.