The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) are looking for a motorist they believe unknowingly picked up two witnesses of a triple homicide near Qualicum Beach.
In a media release, VIIMCU investigators said they are still looking to speak with a motorist who picked up two hitchhikers in a light coloured sedan on the morning of November 1st.
This individual has not yet made contact with police, and may be unaware that they are being sought by them as a witness.
On November 1, a person riding an off-road motorcycle discovered an unresponsive man on Melrose Forest Service Road shortly after 2 p.m.
The motorcyclist immediately contacted paramedics and police. Upon arrival, police and paramedics located the unresponsive man and confirmed that he was deceased.
Nearby, authorities also discovered a burned-out travel trailer with two deceased adults inside, and a man in another trailer who appeared to have been shot.
The remains of four dogs were also recovered. The bodies were recovered near Parksville, in the Whiskey Creek area.
The shooting victim was airlifted by BCEHS to hospital and is now in stable condition.
“Fire scenes bring a variety of challenges and are complex scenes to process. Investigators must pore over the scene, meticulously search through debris piece by piece and then examine collected items using specialized techniques,” says Corporal Chris Manseau, Media Relations Officer for the BC RCMP.
“Initial findings lead investigators to believe that this in an isolated incident between parties well known to one another. We do not believe there is any on-going risk to the public,” said Cpl. Jesse Foreman of the Oceanside RCMP.
Anyone with information about the incident, or who might have dash camera or trail camera footage around the area, is asked to call the RCMP tip and information line at (250) 380-6211.
With files from Tim Ford
