The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is seeking the public’s help in its investigation into a First Nations female youth who was found deceased in Smithers.
She was reported missing to the RCMP on the evening of December 26, and was last seen around 9th Avenue and Main Street at approximately 7:00 p.m. and last spoke with someone by phone around 9:00 p.m.
The IIO said at the time she was dropped off on December 26, the youth was wearing a white puffy jacket, blue jeans and carrying a black purse.
However, when her body was located on a walking trail in Riverside Park shortly after 10:00 a.m. the next day, she was wearing grey pajama pants, a black shirt, black sweater and western style ankle boots.
The IIO was notified on December 31 and started an investigation.
Investigators want to speak to anyone who saw the youth in either location or at any point on the evening of December 26 or morning of December 27, or have information related to this incident.
There are two factors that the IIO considers at the beginning of each investigation:
- If there has been an injury that meets the threshold of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act, or a death; and
- If there is a connection between the serious harm/death and officer action or inaction.
If both conditions are met, the investigation will continue to examine all available evidence to determine what occurred, and the chief civilian director will consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence may have occurred.
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