British Columbia

Man arrested after woman found dead in North Okanagan: RCMP

RCMP say a man has been arrested after a woman was found dead Sunday in a rural area of B.C.'s North Okanagan while officers were investigating an alleged abduction near the Village of Lumby. 

Body was found as police investigated potential abduction in Lumby, B.C.

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's 'E' division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
RCMP say they discovered the body of a woman while investigating an alleged abduction near Lumby, B.C., in the North Okanagan.  (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

RCMP say a man has been arrested after a woman was found dead Sunday in a rural area of B.C.'s North Okanagan while officers were investigating an alleged abduction near the Village of Lumby. 

Police say a man believed to be involved in the death was arrested and released from custody Monday with a series of conditions. 

RCMP have not released the identity of either the victim or the man who was arrested.

Staff Sgt. Jason Smart of the RCMP's Southeast District Major Crimes Unit said in a statement the incident is believed to be "isolated" without further risk to the public.

Investigators are seeking any dashcam or other video footage from between 7 a.m. PT on April 13 and 10 a.m. PT on April 14 in an area that includes the Village of Lumby, along Highway 6 to the west of Lumby, north along Shuswap Avenue or Lumby-Mabel-Lake Road and to the east side of Mabel Lake.

Lumby is home to about 2,000 people and is located approximately 55 kilometres northeast of Kelowna.

Police not confirming link to missing person investigation

News of the death comes just two days after police put out a call for help in the search for a missing person in the same community.

On April 13, Lumby RCMP asked the public for help in locating 44-year-old Tatjana Stefanski, who was last seen just after 8 a.m. Saturday while speaking with her ex-husband before "departing unexpectedly with him."

Composite photo of Tatjana Stefanski, a white woman.
Lumby RCMP asked the public Saturday for help locating 44-year-old Tatjana Stefanski. These photos were distributed by friends and family online. (Facebook)

The two were last seen in a 2007 black Audi A6, police said at the time.

RCMP did not confirm Monday that the woman found dead is connected to the missing person case reported Saturday.

CBC News has asked RCMP if the missing person case is still active, but has not received a response.

Corrections

  • The original RCMP statement misspelled Tatjana Stefanski's first name. This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling.
    Apr 16, 2024 4:18 PM PT