Update: Martin Vandenberg, 22, is being held under the Mental Health Act in connection with the suspicious death of his mother, Heather Jones, on Salt Spring Island. Full story here
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the suspicious death of a mother and businesswoman on Salt Spring Island. The victim has been identified by friends as Heather Jones, who was born and raised on the island and owns the taxi firm Amber Cabs Co.
Cpl. Tammy Douglas, spokeswoman for Island district RCMP, said the man arrested and the woman who died were known to each other but would not confirm if they were son and mother.
Jones was found dead inside her home on Wednesday around noon. She lived in a duplex at 146-148 Maliview Dr., north of Ganges. The home remained behind police tape on Thursday as forensic investigators in white suits collected evidence and major crime investigators spoke with neighbours.
RCMP are not calling the death a homicide, but said foul play is suspected. The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, Salt Spring Island RCMP, forensic identification officers and the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s just a tragedy for everyone,” said Trish Nobile, a counsellor with Salt Spring Island Community Services. “It’s kind of unbelievable. This kind of thing doesn’t happen on Salt Spring Island.”
Nobile was a youth and family counsellor at Gulf Islands Senior Secondary when Jones and her siblings were students. She said they are a big family and well known in the community.
Jones’s sister Penny Jones owns Penny’s Pantry, a restaurant and catering service on Lower Ganges Road. Before starting her own business, Jones worked at the restaurant and at Country Grocer. An employee who answered the phone at the restaurant said they cannot comment.
Dale Schweighardt, who owns Moby’s Pub, said a few years ago when Jones decided to start a cab company to compete with Silver Shadow taxi, the community threw their support behind her. “Her business was vital to my business,” Schweighardt said, adding Jones and fellow drivers were integral in providing pub patrons with a safe ride home.
Jones was friendly, kind and well-respected, Schweighardt said.
“That family is woven deep in the community,” he said. “I know the community is going to have a hard time healing on this one.”
Ben Tewkesbury, a cook at the Oystercatcher Seafood Bar and Grill, said he would see Jones almost daily when he took a cab to work.
“She was a very kind lady, definitely a sweetheart,” said Tewkesbury. “She’d give you a ride whenever you needed a ride, whether you had money or you had no money. She always had a smile on her face. She brought a smile to everyone. She was one of a kind.”
Earlier story
RCMP major crimes officers were on scene investigating at a Salt Spring Island duplex home Wednesday evening.
Police tape surrounded the house north of Ganges but the RCMP would not say why officers are there.
The B.C. Coroner Service, however, confirmed it is involved and referred questions to the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, which investigates suspicious deaths and homicides.
The home behind police tape is a clapboard-sided duplex at 146-148 Maliview Dr.
One nearby neighbour said two adult sisters live in the two homes of the duplex. One of them has about five children.
The neighbour asked to remain anonymous and said she knows only one of the women and only by her first name.
At one point on Wednesday an air ambulance was called to transport someone to hospital.
Another neighbour said an ambulance was at the duplex shortly past noon.
While RCMP provided few details, a spokeswoman said no threats exist for the public. “Our members are on scene and there is no immediate danger to the community,” said Island district RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Tammy Douglas.
