Discovery of deceased man in forested area considered suspicious

Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit

2023-05-16 15:21 PDT

File # 2023-780 VIIMCU file 2023-8854

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) is currently investigating after the body of a deceased man was discovered in a forested area, west of Lake Cowichan.

On May 14, 2023, the Lake Cowichan RCMP was notified by a witness who stumbled across the body of a deceased man in a remote forested area, approximately an hour west of Lake Cowichan.

Initial evidence gathered at the scene led investigators to believe criminality was involved said Corporal Alex Bérubé, spokesperson for the RCMP in British Columbia. Unfortunately, the deceased was identified as 42-year-old Joseph Alexander Smith, who was reported missing on May 7, 2023.

Several specialized units are assisting with the investigation, including the RCMP Forensic Identification Section and Police Service Dogs.

Anyone with information, including those who may have dash cam or personal video footage of the area of the Ditidhat Main logging road and North Shore logging road on May 4, 2023, is asked to contact the VIIMCU information line at 250-380-6211.
 

Released by

Cpl. Alex Bérubé

Email: alex.berube@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Follow Us:

bcrcmpnews

@bcrcmp

@bcrcmp