Investigations into other murders have been scaled back in order to concentrate on the case of the missing women from the Downtown Eastside

canada.com

PRINCE GEORGE -- Police say no link has been found between a tree planter missing while hitchhiking in northern B.C. and several other women who died in the same region.

Tree planter Nicole Hoar went missing after being dropped off by friends near Prince George. (BCTV News on Global)

Police have scaled back the search for 25-year-old Nicole Hoar, who disappeared last month while hitchhiking between Prince George and Smithers along Highway 16.

At least six other women vanished or died along the route between 1990 and 1995.

Four bodies were recovered.

RCMP Constable Mike Herchuk says there is no evidence Hoar has run into foul play, or is connected with the other disappearances.

A massive ground and air search for Hoar officially ended Sunday night, and Herchuk says police are now concentrating more on following up tips and other possible leads.

Police also went to banks, service stations and convenience stores along the highway and collected hundreds of hours of videotape that now must be examined.

Meanwhile, a police team that investigates "cold" cases like the Highway 16 killings has been mostly disbanded to free officers for the investigation of a Port Coquitlam farm, where the remains of several women have been found.

Robert Pickton faces seven counts of murder in that case.