The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have launched an investigation into the murder of a 14-year-old Native girl in British Columbia.

Aielah Katherina Saric had been missing for more than a week and was last seen near a bar in Prince George. Her body was found on a highway on the outskirts of the city last Friday.

Highway 16, running between Prince George and Prince Rupert, is known as the "Highway of Tears." Nine women -- at least five of them Native -- have gone missing or have been found dead along the highway in the last 15 years.

A 24-year-old Native woman, Crystal Lee Okimaw, has also gone missing. She was last seen at a women�s shelter in Prince George, a city in northern B.C. located near several First Nation reserves.

Get the Story:
14-year-old girl murdered (CBC 2/15)
Police ID remains as missing Prince George girl (CTV 2/15)
Mark Hume: 'Highway of tears' autopsy awaited (The Globe and Mail 2/15)

Relevant Links:
Native Women's Association of Canada - http://www.nwac-hq.org
Native Women Missing in Canada - http://www.missingnativewomen.ca/alert.html

Related Stories:
Native woman's death being investigated as homicide (02/02)
Search for missing Native teen exhausts all leads (08/05)
Few leads reported in search for missing Native teen (07/26)
Video generates lead in case of missing Native teen (02/25)
Police release videotape of missing Native girl (2/22)
Daughter's disappearance destroys Native family (12/14)
Native women call attention to missing sisters (07/29)
Family hires investigator to help locate daughter (07/12)
Families seek help in locating missing Native teens (04/30)
Man. police seek help in locating missing teen (03/19)
Women's group calls attention to missing Native women (03/09)