Human remains have been found inside a burned-out vehicle on the Pacheedaht First Nation near Port Renfrew, and Sooke RCMP and major-crime investigators are treating it as a suspicious death.
At about 10 a.m. Tuesday, a person called police to report a burned vehicle with what looked to be a dead body inside.
Sooke RCMP officers found the remains inside the vehicle, a grey 2004 Pontiac Grand Am.
The identity of the deceased has not been determined, RCMP said Thursday.
Pacheedaht band manager Chris Hopkins said the car was on the main road into the reserve. The doors were open and the body was in the reclined driver’s seat, he said.
Hopkins said several officers were canvassing for information.
“They had 10 officers [Wednesday] interviewing the community,” he said.
Hopkins said a clinical psychologist, elders from Tofino and Port Alberni, and First Nations health officers are in the community to support anyone affected by the death.
“We have community breakfasts, lunches and dinners to get everyone together and support each other,” he said.
Hopkins said investigators have not confirmed that the case is a homicide but called it “highly suspicious.”
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit has been called in to help with the investigation, along with the B.C. Coroners Service and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section.
Sooke RCMP ask anyone with information to contact them at 250-642-5241 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
