The homicide investigation of a Victoria man whose remains were found near a Malahat rest stop in 2017 is ongoing, according to the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU).
While multiple persons of interest have been identified, police are asking for the public’s assistance in solving the case.
See also: Homicide victim found near Malahat summit identified as missing Victoria man
72-year-old Richard “Blair” Young, was last seen on February 8th, 2017, and was reported missing on Feb. 14th of the same year. Nearly three weeks later, on March 2nd, his remains were found at the Arbutus rest stop off the Malahat section of Highway 1.
Following the suspicious conditions of his disappearance and further evidence gathered, police ruled that Blair’s case was a homicide.
“Blair was a 72-year-old gentleman, a father, and stepfather who made efforts to provide help and assistance to his loved ones,” said VIIMCU Insp. David Hal in a release.
“He maintained daily contact with his family members checking on their well-being and he is missed.”
The specifics of how he died have not been released.
Previously unreleased footage now available to public
To aid in the investigation, police have released a video of Blair leaving his apartment building on February 8th, 2017, the last time he was ever seen.
Investigators say that the footage suggests that Blair was not expecting to be gone for very long, as he was wearing a “light jacket” in sub-zero temperatures, as Victoria had just seen heavy snowfall at the time.
Besides identifying a number of persons of interest, police also discovered that over $30,000 was fraudulently charged on Blair’s credit card on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
Investigators do not believe that he was involved in crime, however, they also do not believe that his death was a random act.
Police are hoping that the video will prompt people with information to come forward.
“The investigation has identified suspects … and we believe there are people who are close to the person or persons responsible for the homicide who have knowledge of what happened to Blair,” said Hall.
“We’re asking for those people to come forward.”
Anyone with information, “no matter how insignificant it may seem”, is asked to contact VIIMCU at 250-380-6211.
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