In 1976, when Heather Ede was 14 years old and living in Powell River, BC, the body of her friend Elizabeth (Lizzie) Gardner was found under the Lois River Bridge. For over 45 years Heather wondered what had happened to her friend and if the police were still investigating her death. In January 2022 she filed a Freedom of Information request with the RCMP. She was shocked to discover that Elizabeth’s case was listed as unsolved, first-degree murder and still under investigation. “I always thought that Lizzie and her friends were hanging out under the Lois River bridge and she had a fight with someone, and something happened,” she told me.
Found under Lois River Bridge
Elizabeth Margaret Gardner was born on September 5, 1961, in Preston, England. She still had a trace of an English accent. According to an article in the Powell River News on March 18, 1976
“The body of Elizabeth Gardner of Fernwood Avenue was found under the Lois River Bridge south of town by a local resident taking nature photographs. The cause of death was a fractured skull and massive internal injuries. It is known that she left her home on Monday between 7:30 and 8:00 pm and she was to walk to a bus stop near the Westview Hotel. Police suspect she caught a ride to the Lang Bay area.”
Taking the bus:
Heather believes that Elizabeth was taking the bus on Marine Avenue to visit her boyfriend Denis in Wildwood, an area in the opposite direction to Lang Bay. She had fifty cents for the bus fare and that was found on her later.
In November 1976, the Powell River Town Crier ran a story that said RCMP still didn’t know how Elizabeth got out to the bridge that night.
I was surprised to see that Elizabeth’s death certificate has cause of death “undetermined” and that her injuries occurred by being “pushed or jumped from a bridge.” In January 1983, the cause of death was updated to “suicide.” That may explain the complete absence of information about her case between 1976 and 2012.
Case reopened in 2012:
Elizabeth’s case was reopened in October 2012 after the RCMP received a tip. Shortly after that they issued a media release “RCMP have reopened a sudden death investigation from 1976 and are looking for a potential witness – Patrick Roy Allen. Mr. Allen is about 65 years old and may have information and not realize its significance.”
It doesn’t sound like Mr. Allen was ever located and Heather thinks this may have been the photographer who found Elizabeth’s body.
If you have any information about the night that Elizabeth went missing or her murder, please contact Powell River RCMP at 604-485-6255. Or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 or go to the website bccrimestoppers.com
13 comments on “The 1976 Murder of Elizabeth Gardner”
I wonder if they checked who was staying at the Westview Hotel near her bus stop.
Sad that the family & friends didn’t know earlier.
I remember this. Back then she showed up to the back yard of my fathers place, Gerry swanson, out at Pine tree place. In the back my dad had put a large 5 tun box off of a truck and i turned it into a great place to hang with freinds who would sleep over and feel safe. In the morning I always remember my dad opening up the door to see who was there and kick them out so as not to be late for school. Once in a while if someone was missing in town the police should call my dad and sometimes the person was there and safe. You know how it was in Powell River back then. She stayed and had a great time for a while and i remember her saying it was her birthday, she only stayed for about a couple of hours but i do remember her not wanting to go home, don’t know the reason. She was happy , seemed full of life, my dad said that the police had come out looking for her with the father but for some reason she hid from him. I’m not sure but i think it was the next day she was found under Eagle River bridge.
I agree with you Barry, could have sworn her body and purse with the money still in it was found at the Eagle River bridge. I thought she lived further down Marine Ave at the time, a couple of streets over from Invermere Crt.
Elizabeth was my friend & classmate. I do remember at the time there was this man with a truck & camper. A lot older than us, but he would let teens come there to drink & smoke. Probably bought the booze for them I’m guessing. I never went there but I do recall seeing him parked in the old Super Value parking lot in the evening. Also her brothers name was Chris, not Jules
I’m very sorry about your friend. The photo that Heather gave me is of Elizabeth and her sister Jules.
Thank you. Julie sorry I missed that. I have the newspaper clippings if you’d like me to send you
Hi Sandra, I was born and grew up in Powell River and remember this of course. I would have been about 17 at the time this happened. The story you related about the man with the camper reminded me of a guy who was hanging around the old townsite poolhall that we hung out at in those days, although I think it may have been a year or two earlier. He was trying to get the younger patrons to come and hang with him in his camper truck. He had those old gag store plastic vomit props and would pretend he was getting ill and deftly toss it onto a pool table or a pinball machine, thinking it would make us believe he was great fun to be around. I don’t recall anyone actually going into his camper but he did try. And he didn’t use his real name and instead called himself Tex. Does anyone else remember that guy ? Just kinda fits into the luring predator profile…
Alex I remember that guy he had a truck and camper he spent a lot of time at the pool hall in the town site and I remember a window above the cab that had a mask or a dummy of a old man looking out the window
I remember him. I was at the Dairy Queen with friends when he did his fake vomit trick on a table. I thought he was creepy.
I also remember Liz. My last memory of her she was smiling and giggling at her locker. I hope they catch her killer.
Of course I remember this as we were friends. I always wondered what happened to Elizabeth. She lived a block and a half from me and we use to play together. When she died I was horrified. I have never forgotten her and never will, wondering what happened to her.
Hi Sandra. I’m Elizabeth’s cousin from England.
Please could you send me the newspaper clippings
Thanks joanne
Hi Joanne. I just saw your message so if you see my message, my email is sandyq6219@gmail.com