What happened to Charles Mercier?
One year after the 35-year-old man’s scattered remains were found along the banks of Powell River near the Wildwood bridge, questions far outnumber answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mercier’s brother Steven Tworek, who lives in Sudbury, Ontario, said his family has not received any kind of update since police confirmed the death almost a year ago.
“It’s been very difficult,” said Tworek. “Charley was my only brother.”
Powell River RCMP staff sergeant Rod Wiebe said that Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crimes Unit is still investigating the Powell River man’s death.
“They are still actively investigating the matter,” said Wiebe. “Given it is an ongoing investigation, no other information can be released.”
When police first confirmed the human remains discovered were those of Mercier, they said they were trying to determine the cause of death and asked for the public’s help with any information that could assist in the investigation.
Foul play was not ruled out, but police did say at the time they did not think there was any threat to the public.
In cases where the cause of death is not readily apparent, it is common for forensic investigators and coroners to be brought in to assist the police, and this was the case in the Mercier investigation.
On October 1, 2015, Powell River RCMP first requested the public’s help in trying to locate Mercier, who had been missing since September 11, though police were not notified until 10 days later.
According to police, he had last been seen walking along Willingdon Beach trail with an acquaintance. Aerial and ground searches were conducted but nothing was found until October 2, when human remains were discovered on the Townsite side of the bridge leading to Wildwood.
At the time, police were unable to say if it was Mercier. It took investigators three weeks to confirm the identity of the remains.
Tworek said at this point he hopes to find out anything about his brother’s death. He and his mother Wilma have been left in a kind of limbo, not knowing what happened, he said.
After learning about his brother’s death, Tworek said a memorial service was held in Sudbury. Mercier left behind his wife, Regina, and young son, Charles, now five years old.
Mercier’s former employer and friend Amy Sharp said she would also like to know what happened.
“It’s been a year now,” said Sharp. “Why do we still know nothing about his death?”
Another of Mercier’s friends and a former co-worker, Cliff Cheung, said he often thinks about how his friend died.
“I still miss the man and often wonder about him,” said Cheung.
Mercier worked for Sharp at Manzanita Restaurant and Catering for almost two years during 2009 and 2010 and lived across from her on Duncan Street.
“He was a down-to-earth guy who was very willing to help in any way he could,” said Sharp. “He loved to cook and he also was a bit of a handyman.”
Even after he stopped working at Manzanita, Mercier was happy to sharpen Sharp’s chef knives. Cheung agreed that Mercier was a very kind man.
“When things were going right for him, he was a really wonderful young man, hardworking, a good husband and father,” said Cheung.
But things did not always go well for Mercier. Before his death, his friends noted that he was struggling with pain management from injuries he had sustained throughout his life.
“He was having a real hard time,” said Sharp.
Tworek confirmed that his brother had been taking doctor-prescribed opioid painkillers for injuries he had since he was young.
Cheung said when he noticed Mercier was having a tough time, he approached him to help.
“I talked to him a few times at his house to try to shake him out of it,” said Cheung. “I even got him a job someplace else after, but he just wasn’t there anymore. I just don’t know what transpired with him.”
