Newfoundland and Labrador RCMP announced on December 16th that they arrested 50-year-old Dean Penney on Friday, December 15, 2023 and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-Penney.

The remains of Jennifer Hillier-Penney have not yet been found and investigators continue to follow all leads related to the possible location of her remains.

Inspector Tracy Edwards, Officer in Charge of Investigative Support Services, said “We acknowledge that seven years is a long time to go without answers. The anguish felt by Jennifer’s loved ones and the community was always top of mind as we worked our way through a complex investigation that began with ruling out all reasonable explanations for Jennifer’s disappearance and then moving to identifying the person criminally responsible. These investigations take time, cannot be rushed and must be pursued with diligence and a commitment to investigative excellence.”

Update: Dean Penney was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, Jennifer Hillier-Penney, nearly 10 years after she disappeared in 2016. A jury delivered the verdict on May 24 after four days of deliberations.

According to The Telegram, Jennifer vanished from her home in St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador, on Nov. 30, 2016, while caring for the couple’s youngest daughter. Prosecutors argued that Penney intentionally returned home that night to kill her because their marriage had ended and he was angry over the divorce and financial consequences.

A major part of the Crown’s case was Penney’s confession during an undercover RCMP “Mr. Big” operation. Believing he was speaking to members of a criminal organization, he described confronting Jennifer, pushing her during an argument, and then fatally attacking her with a mallet after she fell down the stairs. He also admitted to disposing of her body in Hare Bay after cleaning the scene. Her remains have never been found.

The defence argued the confession was fabricated, claiming Penney lied because he feared the fake criminal organization and wanted a lucrative job they promised him.

Penney will be sentenced in November 2026.