Another site being scoured after human remains found at rural property in the north Okanagan

Oct 23, 2017 | 4:34 PM

VERNON — RCMP were scouring a third area off Salmon River Road Monday afternoon after human remains were found at a rural property a few kilometres away in the north Okanagan.  Police were standing guard by a yellow tarp about four kilometres north of the Salmon River Road farm that’s now the subject of a thorough investigation. After a few hours, the tarp was replaced by seven evidence markers and the canine unit was brought in to further examine the site.

RCMP said they will be on the rural property at least several more days, if not more.

“With an investigation of this nature it is difficult to presume what will happen next,” Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said. “At this time we are taking it one day at a time. We are fully prepared to be at that location for several days to come.”

However, police won’t say if they are looking for further remains or remains that are linked to more than one person.

“With respect to the remains found, we have been able to confirm we found human remains and that is how we can describe them at this point in time,” Cpl. Dan Moksaluk said. “We are not quantifying what exactly we found or if these are remains belong to one or more persons.”

RCMP officials have confirmed that human remains were found following the search of a rural property on Salmon River Road in north Okanagan.

RCMP teams from across southeastern B.C. took part in a search of the property on Thursday. Police didn’t reveal the reason behind the operation, saying only that they executed a search warrant “in relation to an ongoing investigation.”

On Saturday evening, the RCMP Southeast District Major Crimes Unit and Vernon North Okanagan RCMP confirmed that human remains were found at the property, located on the 2200-block of Salmon River Road.

Police had issued a warning related to Salmon River Road last Friday, after a woman was allegedly threatened with a firearm earlier this year. Police said a man and woman used a website utilized by sex workers and escorts to arrange a meeting in the area.

Salmon River Road resident Ryan McDonald told Global News his wife heard a gunshot in August and told investigators. He said a man in his 50s had lived on the property for some years.

Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said RCMP cannot confirm at this time if the human remains are that of a missing woman.

Moskaluk said searchers are also combing the area of Springbend Road and Highway 97B. That search is related to the Salmon River Road investigation.

One resident told Global News that officers were asking about a man named “Curtis.”

No further information is available about the discovery of the human remains at this time, with RCMP and BC Coroners Service continuing to investigate.