A Kamloops lawyer has been charged with one count of interfering with a dead body, in connection with an ongoing suspicious death investigation in Dufferin.

RCMP say Rogelio Butch Bagabuyo, 54, has been charged under Section 182(b) of the Criminal Code for placing the remains in a plastic bin. The charges were sworn on Friday, March 18, though online records show the date of the offence was Wednesday, March 16.

Online records also show Bagabuyo, who has a law practice in downtown Kamloops, had a bail hearing scheduled for this morning, March 21.

Police were called to the 1600-block of Monterey Place around 10 p.m. Thursday, March 17, where they say they found a person dead inside a vehicle.

No information about the victim has been released as police say they are waiting for the results of an autopsy to confirm both identity and the cause of death.

On Sunday, police did release a picture of a white 2020 GMC van that is linked to this suspicious death in an appeal for any potential witnesses to come forward.

“This investigation is still ongoing and we continue to ask for the public’s assistance in helping us establish the movements of a van in connection to it,” spokesperson Const. Crystal Evelyn, said.

Mounties are also asking anyone who may have seen the van over the course of the past week in Kamloops or in surrounding rural areas and communities, including Barriere, Clearwater, Valemount, Savona, Cache Creek, to come forward.

The RCMP’s General Investigation Service Team, Forensic Identification Service, Police Dog Service, and frontline officers are investigating, as is the BC Coroners Service.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kamloops RCMP and reference file 2022-8565.