Woman who was abducted from Island Tan in Newton and later found murdered

[Jenine]

Hello,
I am trying to find an article related to this story.  I am recalling this story from memory and I believe it was in the mid 1990’s.  She was a young blond girl who was abducted form Island Tan in Newton, Surrey and then found murdered somewhere in the Coquihalla Hwy.  There was video tape of her withdrawing money from an ATM with the suspect in the background.  The story was that this guy from Alberta did this crime and then fled back to Alberta and committed suicide, so the authorities were never able to solve the crime.

I am trying to find the name of the girl who was abducted and any stories surrounding her murder.

[Sleuth]

Welcome Jenine! Des would be the gal to answer your question as to who the young girl was. She has a great data base!!!! May I ask if you are looking into this cold case, if it is a cold case?

[Jenine]

Ok... how do I access Des' database?  I'm not even sure it's unsolved.  I don't recall that there was a resolution in the press at the time as the suspect had committed suicide.  If it has been solved, perhaps I'm in the wrong website....

I'm interested in this case, as I believe it led to laws being changed re working alone and also dispelled the theory that women shouldn't fight back.  I remember her father being quite distraught because he always counselled her to "just do whatever someone wants and they won't hurt you", which we know know is not true.

[Jenine]

Thanks for your response. I will wait to hear from Des as I have searched this website and can't find anyone that seems to fit. 

I'm not sure when the laws regarding working alone came into effect, but I seem to remember this particular murder shined alot of light on this issue (as did Grant De Patie of course).

[Jenine]

I have a personal reason for wanting to know more about this story.  It affected me many years ago when it happened, as at the time, I had very young daughters and could totally relate to this young woman and her fathers pain for his misguided advice to her.

My (now grown, but still only 17 years old) daughter had been working at Island Tan for the last 10 months.  But the company has now revised their policy and is again scheduling the young beautiful girls they hire, to work alone.  My daughter is no longer working for the company because of this, but there are still girls working there and I know this happens in many retail situations.  My goal is to have the tragic story of this girl brought to the news media again, so that the people who were too young to remember may see themselves in this situation and perhaps some lives will be saved.  Either by them changing jobs or being more cautious about whom they deal with in their jobs.

But first I need to know the name of the girl, so that I can get her story from the new archives.

[D1]

Jenine: Melanie Carpenter may be the name you are looking for.

[Jenine]

Yes!  Melanie Carpenter!!! that is the name!  thank you!!

[the stuff of legend]

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the story, Melanie Carpenter was a 23-year-old, tanning salon manager who was abducted from the "Island Tan" in
Newton where she worked.
The suspect was 37-year-old, ex con Fernand Auger who was en parole after serving 2/3 of his sentence due to violent crimes. (including sexual-assault charges)
On the cold afternoon of January 6th. 1995, Melanie was kidnapped from her place of work where she was ALONE after receiving a suspicious call from Auger feigning interest in doing business.
Fernand Auger drove Melanie Carpenter out to the Fraser Canyon where he sexually assaulted and then stabbed Melanie to death. Auger committed suicide using his car before he could be arrested.
Melanie Carpenter's body was later found on January 26 and the site has since become a memorial dedicated in her memory.

[Chris]

Wow I never heard that before. thanks for sharing. It is too bad justice was never served.

[the stuff of legend]

My (now grown, but still only 17 years old) daughter had been working at Island Tan for the last 10 months.  But the company has now revised their policy and is again scheduling the young beautiful girls they hire, to work alone.  My daughter is no longer working for the company because of this, but there are still girls working there and I know this happens in many retail situations.  My goal is to have the tragic story of this girl brought to the news media again, so that the people who were too young to remember may see themselves in this situation and perhaps some lives will be saved.  Either by them changing jobs or being more cautious about whom they deal with in their jobs.

Jenine' (I don't know if I did the quote right)
I've been wanting raise awareness about Melanie Carpenter too (laity in particular for some reason). I remember when this took place, I was only 10-years-old and it effected me so deeply. I wanted so bad to be able to have made a difference. Maybe now together we can.
I worry people are forgetting. I can't even find a picture of Melanie or the suspect. No pictures, no documentaries, no old media coverage, nothing.
It sends a cold chill down my spine to hear that Island Tan is back to giving their female employees late night, shifts alone. Did we learn nothing?
If I had the resources and a filming permit. I'd try doing a documentary