A Prince George cab driver might have been one of the last people to have contact with one of Prince George's recent victims of violence against women.
The Citizen has learned from a taxi industry contact that one victim - which case was not disclosed - could perhaps be traced to a cab ride to a home east of the city.
A man was reportedly at the home where she was dropped off, the contact said.
The timing is still under investigation and police would not confirm evidentiary details, but that cab ride might postdate any other last known report of the victim's activities, which presumably boosts the investigation if it proves to be true.
This is part but not all of the motivation behind the RCMP's request that all taxi drivers in the city voluntarily submit a DNA sample. There are four cases of murdered or disappeared women for which the DNA samples will be used.
"This is dating back to October. They asked for the information then regarding those two missing women," said a contact at Emerald Taxi, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"At that time someone said a cab driver might know something, so they called us all in for an interview, and then said 'Oh, how about a DNA sample too?' which was a surprise."
The story at Prince George Taxi was similar.
Manager Sam Kuuluvainen said after Maas and Montgomery were first reported missing, police came the knock on their door asking for various records about which cab drivers were working at which times, then the blanket request for DNA samples to cover everyone at once.
"Police questioned them about if they had any relevant information, if they ever remember driving these people, if they often drive known prostitutes around, and basically if they would submit a voluntary DNA sample. If they gave that sample, they would be crossed off but if they didn't submit one they would be considered still on the list."
Kuuluvainen said the drivers did what they could to help, but said he was not pleased by the aggressive way taxi drivers were spoken to by the investigators.
"I had drivers in here volunteering information. We have always been very co-operative with the RCMP. We don't want to be in their RCMP's bad books, they are there to help us in some serious situations so we appreciate them. This [DNA sampling] might help clear a driver too. I just need to ask a bunch more questions now because I wasn't prepared for what happened with the DNA thing," he said.
"But as far as I'm concerned, if the RCMP wants your help in a murder investigation you should do it. If they have a theory, they have to pursue it. I understand that. It is nice to clear the drivers, and they want results for this case, and I hope they solve these things."
Between the two cab companies in Prince George there are more than 150 drivers and/or owners of taxis. Most willingly consented to the DNA samples, but a very small number did not give the drop of blood or saliva swab.
