By Dylana Milobar

Husband of Lake Country drowning victim charged with second-degree murder

Apr 7, 2019 | 9:23 AM

LAKE COUNTRY — The 2016 drowning death of a Lake Country woman once though to be a tragic accident is now being investigated as a homicide.

After an investigation by the Southeast District Major Crime Unit, police now believe the drowning of 56-year-old Arlene Westervelt was no accident, and have charged her husband with second degree murder. 

Westervelt died on June 26th in 2016 while she was canoeing and picnicking at Okanagan Lake near Lake Country. 

Her body was found by the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team the next day in 35 feet of water, about 100 feet from the shore.

Yesterday (April 6), 63-year-old Lake Country resident Lambertus (Bert) Westervelt was formally charged with second degree murder for the alleged homicide death of his wife, Arlene Susan Westervelt on June 26, 2016.

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“Bert Westervelt was taken into police custody without incident on Friday afternoon in Lake Country,” states RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey of the Kelowna Regional Detachment. “RCMP Southeast District Major Crime investigators are very grateful for the public’s assistance throughout the course of this investigation.”

Bert Westervelt has been remanded into custody, with his court appearance scheduled for Monday (April 8) in Kelowna.

 Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Southeast District Major Crime Unit at the dedicated tip line 1-877-987-8477.