Sicamous, Tofino RCMP investigate suspicious deaths in past few days

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Mounties in two B.C. communities are investigating two suspicious deaths in the past couple of days.

At about 2:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, a woman was reported to be lying in the middle of a private road in medical distress in the Cedars RV and Resort in Sicamous.

The 65-year-old woman had “sustained significant injuries” and was in cardiac arrest, said Southeast District RCMP spokesman Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. She was rushed from the scene in grave condition and later died in hospital.

O’Donaghey said the investigation by both the RCMP and B.C. Coroners Service is still “in its infancy” but said the death is considered suspicious.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Sicamous RCMP at 250-836-2878 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

And on Dec. 30, Tofino RCMP were called for a welfare check on a man in a home in the 1300-block of Chesterman Beach Road. Officers found the man dead inside.

“Based on observations at the scene, the death was deemed to be suspicious and the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit assumed conduct of the investigation,” said RCMP Insp. Kevin O’Donnell.

Later that day, an individual was taken into custody in Nanaimo and released. Police say it’s an isolated incident and there is no risk to the public.

They are asking anyone who saw suspicious activity on Chesterman Beach Road between Dec. 23 and 30 to call the major crime unit at 250-380-6211 or Tofino RCMP at 250-725-3242.