Identity of Waterfront Park victim still a mystery
James Weldon, North Shore News
Published: Monday, January 04, 2010
The person found dead in North Vancouver's Waterfront Park last month was an adult male, according to a newly completed autopsy, but the victim's identity remains a mystery.
The body, found under the park's Cathedral sculpture by a couple walking their dog Dec. 26, was finally autopsied Thursday. The examination was apparently held up by a backlog of work at the coroner's office.
Investigators could not determine at first whether the corpse was male or female, suggesting it had likely undergone some form of trauma either before or after death. Police say they have several leads as to the victim's identity, but that it will be several weeks before they can reach a conclusion. If and when that happens, investigators will inform his next of kin before releasing the victim's name to the public.
Police say they are treating the death as a murder until they have reason to believe otherwise. "It is the goal of investigators to obtain as much information as soon a possible, review what can be released and inform the community of what we can without compromising the investigation," said Cpl. Dale Carr, a spokesman for the RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigative Team, in a release.
North Vancouver RCMP were the first to respond to the scene, but on examining the body, they deemed the death suspicious and quickly passed the case on to IHIT. Investigators cordoned off the park for much of the weekend while a forensic team combed the area for clues. Officers also canvassed local businesses and residents for eyewitness reports, and collected security camera footage that might help piece together what happened.
Police have not said what had happened to the body to mask its gender, nor have they commented on the cause of death. Other media have reported that the victim was severely beaten, but Carr denied that point blank.
"That's not factually correct at all," he said. As to whether police believe the man was killed at the park - a suggestion also published elsewhere - Carr would not comment. He did emphasize, however, that the public should not be worried.
"I would not hesitate, personally, to use the park (and) have my family at the park," he said. "There is nothing, based on this . . . file, that the public should be afraid of." Carr expected to release more information regarding the manner of death on Tuesday.
Investigators, meanwhile, are looking to the community for assistance. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-4448.
