Police have recovered a body near Penelakut Island, but it is not known if it is that of missing 18-year-old Delores (Dee Dee) Brown, who lives on the island.
Kakayers came across the body Wednesday night off Norway Island, near Penelakut, and alerted police.
Brown has not been seen since July 27. Investigators believe she has been the victim of foul play.
Outer Gulf Islands RCMP, the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, Nanaimo RCMP forensic officers and the RCMP’s West Coast Marine Section responded, along with the B.C. Coroners Service.
The remains have been turned over to the coroner, said Island District RCMP Cpl. Darren Lagan. “They’ll be doing their work to determine the cause of death, the time of death and the identity, first and foremost.”
While the coroner will determine how long the person has been dead, Lagan said it is more than a few days. He said the coroner can usually complete such an examination within a few days.
Police have contacted Brown’s family about the situation.
“Our reasons for speaking to the family of Delores [are] Norway Island is sandwiched between Penelakut Island and Galiano Island so it’s very close in proximity, we’ve got no other missing-person cases which would correlate from that area with tidal waters and that sort of examination that we look at whenever we find a body in or near the water, and also we’ve got the timing, as well. We’ve got an active missing-person case and then a body is discovered.” Lagan stressed that police are not speculating on the identity of the body.
Penelakut Island resident Denise James, who helped in the search, said the community is holding tight for more information. “It’s solemn, for sure. There’s not a lot of movement or activity. Everyone’s kind of staying still.”
The family was notified Wednesday night, she said, and stayed home Thursday. “They’re quite upset, obviously, but they’re very dignified about it. They’re holding their own,” James said.
Brown has two brothers and two sisters, who all live on the island. She most recently lived with her brother, James said, contrary to reports that she lived with her grandmother.
James described Brown as quiet and respectful. “There were never any problems with her. You know how teens get sometimes? She wasn’t like that. She just kind of stuck to herself or stayed with her brother.”
James asked anyone with information to come forward. She said the community effort to find Brown went well beyond Penelakut Island.
“We appreciate all the help we got from neighbouring communities and people we don’t know, who came forward and helped with the search. The family appreciates all of that and we’re grateful for the support.”
Police ask anyone who may have seen Brown since July 27 or has information on her disappearance, to contact the Ladysmith RCMP at 250-245-2215 or Crime stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
