The elementary school in the community of Lumby, B.C., is stepping up security measures after a man was arrested, then released during a police investigation into an alleged abduction and the discovery of a woman’s body.
The death, arrest and release have sparked a series of concerns and questions in the village of around 2,000 people, which is located around 55 kilometres northeast of Kelowna, B.C.
“The way things are unfolding isn’t the most comfortable feeling for our community,” Mayor Kevin Acton told CBC Daybreak South host Chris Walker.
“I mean, it’s a small town, so there’s lots of talk,” he said, adding he’s been fielding many messages from people who are feeling on edge.
Daybreak South8:43The Mayor of Lumby says some local schools have locked their doors because of safety concerns around a police homicide investigation.
The Mayor of Lumby says some local schools have locked their doors because of safety concerns around a police homicide investigation.
On Saturday, April 13, RCMP launched an investigation into the disappearance of Tatjana Stefanski, 44, was reportedly last seen after 8 a.m. PT Saturday while speaking with her ex-husband, before “departing unexpectedly with him,” police said.
The next day, police say, they found the body of a woman “in a remote location” while investigating an alleged abduction.
In a written release, RCMP spokesperson Kris Clark said a man “believed to be involved in this death was arrested in the general vicinity,” and that he was released on Monday, April 15 “with a series of mandatory conditions to abide by.”
The deceased woman has been identified as Stefanski in separate Facebook posts, made by individuals identifying themselves as her daughter and her boyfriend.
The writers of the posts call Stefanski an “amazing mother” and ask for privacy as her family mourns.
School doors locked, supports provided
School District 22 superintendent Christine Perkins told CBC News that Stefanski’s children attend local schools and that supports are being provided for all students impacted by the tragedy.
And in a letter provided to CBC News, Perkins informed families and community members with children at J.W. Inglis Elementary School that all school doors would be locked during school hours in an effort “to create a secure environment for all.”
Perkins said the decision to lock the doors was made by the school district, rather than at the direction of RCMP.
“It’s just an abundance of caution and to make everybody feel safe and secure at this time,” she said.
In a written release, Staff Sgt. Jason Smart of the RCMP’s Southeast District Major Crimes Unit said the incident is believed to be “isolated” without further risk to the public.
Community on edge, mayor says
Mayor Acton said he was frustrated that a potential suspect in a homicide had been released within 24 hours of his arrest, adding he has confidence in RCMP’s ability to keep the village safe.
He also encouraged people to focus on facts, rather than rumour, about what has happened.
However, little information is being provided by RCMP, who have not responded to a series of interview requests from CBC News over the past several days, instead communicating via written statements.
In their original statement about Stefanski’s disappearance on Saturday, police also included the name of her ex-husband, with whom she was last seen.
But on Tuesday, they sent out an email saying they had released incorrect information and the man named in the original release “was never and is in no way connected to our investigation.”
The statement has been updated and still says Stefanski was last seen with her ex-husband, but police have not confirmed his name or whether he is a suspect in her disappearance.
After announcing the discovery of the deceased woman and arrest of one suspect, police said they would not be identifying either individual.
However, on Wednesday afternoon they did confirm via a written release that Stefanski had been found deceased and that “criminality is suspected,” with the investigation turned over to the RCMP Southeast District Major Crimes Unit.
Police have also not provided details of the conditions placed upon the arrested man prior to his release, and have not responded to questions asking what they are.
The B.C. Prosecution Service, which is responsible for pressing charges based on police investigations and evidence, said it does not have an active prosecution file in connection to the case, and directed queries back to RCMP.
Criminal justice lawyer Glenn Verdurmen explained that while he does not know the details of this specific case, in general there is a process that needs to be followed in order for a person to be held in custody by police.
“There has to be sufficient evidence that police .. have probable grounds [to believe] that the person is guilty,” he said. “What do they actually know?”
Absent sufficient evidence, he said, a person cannot be held indefinitely if charges are not brought against them.
“People are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty,” the lawyer said.
Perkins, the school superintendent, said some people in the community are expressing frustration at the lack of information being provided by officials.
But at this point, she said, she simply has to “trust the process” and that everyone is working together to get through the coming weeks together.
“A mom is gone, that’s the hard part” she said. “And in a small town like Lumby … everybody knows.”