Remains of missing Richard Jules have been located

The man’s remains were found by a person going for a walk on the Tk’emlups Reserve.

“It wasn’t remote, but it definitely wasn’t an area that people are walking through on a regular basis,” said Shelkie. “So it was a situation where luckily somebody at that time happened to be walking by and saw the remains.”

RCMP don’t believe Jules’ death was the result of criminal activity, but Shelkie says forensic evidence from the site of the remains may shed more light onto what happened.

“Working with the (B.C.) Coroners Service, Kamloops RCMP’s Rural office will still be investigating to determine how, where, when and by what means he came to his death,” said Shelkie.

“Before we had found his remains, we were just working on evidence from people who had seen him previous to his disappearance,” she continued. “Now that we actually have his remains, we can, perhaps further from there, gain some information about what happened to him just before he died.

“At this time, there is no evidence of criminality. But of course, we are always open to any evidence that may come forward from further examination of his remains. If that does lend itself that something criminal happened, then we’ll definitely be investigating that avenue.”

Meantime, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Chief Rosanne Casimir has confirmed Jules was a band member.

In a news release, Casimir says the band is saddened by Jules’ passing, and that he was known as ‘Lil Rick.’

According to Casimir, Jules worked for the TteS beginning in 1996, doing landscaping, security and building maintenance.

“He was a funny, kind and valuable member of our work teams, and our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his immediate family at this difficult time” added Chief Casimir.

by Ashley Legassic / James Peters

Remains of missing Richard Jules have been located

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