'They're barking up the wrong tree': Jennifer Hillier-Penney's mother-in-law speaks out

Jennifer Hillier-Penney's mother-in-law says there's no way her son harmed his wife, and Ruby Penney is offering $25,000 as a reward to anyone with information about the missing St. Anthony woman.

"I have 100 per cent faith that he had nothing to do with this," Penney said Wednesday, referring to her son Dean, who's been married to Hillier-Penney for 17 years.

An extensive search forHillier-Penneyhas been underway since Thursday, Dec.1, andRCMPacknowledged Wednesday morning that her disappearance is consideredsuspicious.

"They're barking up the wrong tree if they think he did anything and I honestly believe that they spent a couple of days fooling around looking at Dean when they should have been looking somewhere else," Ruby Penney told CBC News.

Living separate lives

The couple was having marital problems, and had been living separate lives.

But Hillier-Penney, 38, was staying at theirSt. Anthony home last week while Dean was away hunting ducks, said Ruby Penney.

The couplehastwo daughters, ages 21 and 15, and Hillier-Penneywent home to spend time with her youngest daughter.

Hillier-Penney was last seen around 8 p.m. on Nov. 30, and wasn't discovered missing until the next morning.

Sources say there was no sign of a struggle or suspicious activity in the house.

When asked what might have happened, Ruby Penney said she hopes her daughter-in-law "ran off somewhere with somebody."

"I just hope they don't find her dead. I can't handle that," she said.

She said her son is not taking part in the search because "if he stumbled on anything, right away they'd be blaming him."

She said Dean Penney is in shock over his wife's disappearance.

"He would give anything in the world for her to come back and I'd say that if she came back here in 10 years time he'd take her back," she said.

Meanwhile,Hillier-Penney's family is holding out hope that she will be found alive, but her father admitted Wednesday that "it looks bleak."

Allan Hilliersaid "it's a mystery to me" what happened to his daughter, and added "we're worried sick."

'Active investigation'

Police won't say whether Dean Penney is a suspect.

There have been no arrests, and "because of the nature of the investigation, I can't get into any further details," RCMPspokesman Cpl. Trevor O'Keefe told CBC News Wednesday.

When asked if he believes something bad has happened to his daughter, Allan Hillier said, "it looks like it."

Thefamily is anxiously awaiting answers, and police said the case is still very much a high priority.

A ground and air search has been carried out inSt. Anthony and surrounding areas, and divers are expected to enter the harbour on Wednesday "to cover all the bases in the investigation," said O'Keefe.

"This matter is still an open and active investigation."

• Helicopter joins 5th day of search for missing St. Anthony woman

• Ground search underway for missing St. Anthony woman

Police are asking people inSt. Anthony to check their properties and for anyone with information about the disappearance to come forward.

Ruby Penneysaid she'll pay big money for information.

'I'm willing to put up $25,000 sir, and if I thought it would take more I'd put up more," she said.