The bodies of two men reported missing last month have been found between Spences Bridge and Ashcroft, and police believe criminality is involved.
Ryan Provencher and Richard Scurr from Surrey were reported missing in mid-July after their vehicle had been found near Logan Lake on July 19. Police later said they believed their disappearance was suspicious and that the pair had been in Spences Bridge, where Provencher has a business, before disappearing.
Lytton RCMP officers first discovered their bodies on Saturday in a rural area, and the Southeast District Major Crime Unit is now leading the investigation and asking for public assistance.
“We have been working closely with the BC Coroners Service to confirm the identities of the deceased as Ryan Provencher and Richard Scurr… The RCMP is confirming their identities in an effort to advance our investigation,” Sgt. Steve Rigby with the major crime unit says.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet says their bodies were found in an area not accessible by vehicle.
“A helicopter from the RCMP Air Services was used to extricate the bodies from that area. So that should give you a good determination as to where they were located. Not obviously in a well-travelled area that we were able to access with a vehicle, and a helicopter was utilized in order to get the bodies out of there,” Shoihet says.
“We do believe that this is an isolated incident. It isn’t connected in any way to any of the other ongoing investigations that are happening in the Southeast District, or have in the past been happening, nor is it connected to the northern B.C. incidents. So we want to assure the public that this is an isolated incident.”
As for the circumstances of their deaths, Shoihet says while criminality is suspected but it’s too soon to say if gang activity might be.
Those with information are asked to call the major crime unit at 1-877-987-8477 or to call Crimestoppers.