Family of Quebec girl battling emotions after remains found: grandfather

By The Canadian Press

SAINT-MAURICE, Que. – The grandfather of a Quebec girl whose remains have been found after her disappearance eight years ago says family members are battling a variety of emotions as bad memories flood back.

“It’s a bizarre mixture — one of sadness but one of consolation in knowing it’s over,” Henri Provencher told reporters three days after passersby happened on Cedrika Provencher’s remains.

Asked how he feels, he replied: “Sad and miserable but that’s life. I wanted them to find a girl who was alive. You can think the worst but when you actually get the news, it hits you harder than you think.

“All we can hope for is that police find the guilty party.”

On Monday, more than 200 officers combed a wooded area in central Quebec in the hope of finding information that could lead to an arrest in the death of Cedrika, who was nine when she vanished near her home in Trois-Rivieres on July 31, 2007.

In a statement, provincial police said the investigation is ongoing and that they would not be making any further comment for now in order to not interfere with it.

A makeshift memorial was set up near where the remains were found Friday, with flowers and stuffed animals laid at the scene.

The girl’s disappearance spawned massive manhunts, a huge police investigation and the distribution of hundreds of posters showing her photo.

She was last seen being approached by an adult to help search for a missing black and white dog.

On Sunday, a Facebook post attributed to Henri Provencher thanked the public for helping the family look for her.

“Despite the pain and broken heart, I want to thank from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of Cedrika’s family all the population, police, media, and numerous volunteers who helped and participated in the search from near and far,” said the post.

“You showed great generosity and a great solidarity in the horror we’re living.”

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