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(UPDATE: Sept. 17) - A 27-year-old man from Oliver, B.C., has been charged with first-degree murder of a 28-year-old Belgian tourist Amelie Christelle Sakkalis.
According to IIHT, Sakkalis was a Belgian national travelling in Canada at the time of her death and investigators believe she was hitchhiking from the Penticton area on August 22, 2018, and heading to Vancouver.
On September 1, IHIT and its partner agencies arrested 27-year-old Sean McKenzie of Oliver, BC.
McKenzie has been charged with first-degree murder and will be appearing before a judge in BC Provincial Court on September 19, 2018.
CHARGED 1ST DEGREE MURDER: 27-yr-old Sean McKenzie of Oliver, BC has been charged w/ 1st degree murder in 28-yr-old Amelie Sakkalis' death. Amelie was a Belgian national, who was travelling in Canada. Call #IHIT if you saw Amelie w/ Sean McKenzie on August 22, 2018. pic.twitter.com/r0E40yXSf6
— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) September 17, 2018
(UPDATE: Sept. 5 @ 10:50 a.m.) - Homicide detectives have identified a murder victim discovered on Aug. 22, 2018 near Boston Bar.
The 28-year-old woman found north of Boston Bar near Highway 1 has been identified as Amelie Sakkalis. Police say that Sakkalis was a Belgian national travelling in Canada at the time of her death.
On Aug. 22, she was hitchhiking from Penticton to Vancouver.
Homicide detectives from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) say they need to speak to anyone who gave Sakkalis a ride.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
(UPDATE: Aug. 25 @ 1:19 p.m.) - The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is seeking public assistance to further its investigation into the homicide of a not yet identified woman.
On Aug. 22 at about 7:45 p.m., the RCMP received a report of a suspicious occurrence north of Boston Bar near Highway 1. Police arrived to find the dead body of a Caucasian woman in her late 20s and it was "evident that she was the victim of homicide." IHIT was called in to take conduct of the investigation.
A man was arrested at the scene in connection to the homicide and has since been released from police custody.
IHIT continues to partner with the Hope RCMP, the Chilliwack RCMP Serious Crime Unit, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and the B.C. Coroners Service to gather evidence.
A white 1994 Chevrolet Astro van was seized near the crime scene and is believed to be associated to the homicide. Investigators would like to speak with anyone that has information about this vehicle.
"The priority for our detectives will be to positively identify the female victim and notify her family of her death," says Cpl. Frank Jang of IHIT. "We urge anyone with information to contact IHIT."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
(Original Story: Aug. 24)
Homicide detectives are looking into a murder of a woman in her late 20s near Highway 1, north of Boston Bar.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said that the body was discovered on Wednesday night at 7:45 p.m. at Kahmoose Road.
Boston Bar Homicide: #IHIT detectives are investigating murder of a Caucasian woman in her late 20s found near Hwy 1 north of Boston Bar on Wednesday at 7:45pm. A white Chev Astro van was seized by #IHIT near crime scene and believed associated to homicide. Got info? Call #IHIT pic.twitter.com/m6NMXktHsQ
— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) August 24, 2018
One person was taken into custody and the last update from police indicated they were still looking to identify the victim.
Homicide detectives say that a white Chev Astro van was seized near the crime scene, and is believed to be associated with the homicide.
Detectives are expected to give an update on the case this morning at BC RCMP headquaters in Surrey.
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