COURTENAY, B.C- A coroner’s investigation has been launched after a woman’s body was found in the Puntledge River last week.
According to a report in the Comox Valley Record, the body was first found by a local fisherman on Thursday, around a mile north of the Condensory Bridge.
The paper states that the fisherman had initially thought the body was garbage floating in the river and found that it was a body after he waded in to retrieve it.
An RCMP helicopter was seen flying low over the river near Lewis Park on Friday afternoon.
A statement from the Comox Valley RCMP on the file indicated that the woman’s body was found around 7:30 p.m. on May 31st, close to the intersection of 3rd Street and Harmston Avenue.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unknown, and officers do not know where she entered the water.
“We are asking for the public’s assistance for any information regarding this incident. If someone drove, cycled, or walked in this area and noticed anything suspicious, please contact our Major Crime Unit.” said Constable Monika Terragni, spokesperson for the detachment.
Andy Watson, the spokesperson for the BC Coroners Service, confirmed earlier today that a woman’s body was pulled from the river on May 31st. The identity of the woman has not been released, and Watson indicated that the death is not considered suspicious in nature.
However, Terragni did not comment on whether or not the death was being considered suspicious.
“At this time, we’re still investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, so it would be inappropriate for me to comment on whether or not it’s suspicious at this time,” said Terragni.
No information on the clothes she was wearing or her age are being released at this time, though Terragni anticipated further updates later in the week.
She also confirmed that the investigation into the woman being found was the reason behind an RCMP helicopter flying low over the river last week.
If anyone has any information on the file, please call the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321 and refer to file 2018-7248. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222 8477 (TIPS) or online at http://comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca/.
