Vancouver/Lower Mainland Violent Deaths 2001
JAMES DENNIS DAVIDSON
Police investigate the death of 42-year-old Surrey resident, James Dennis Davidson. Davidson was found deceased at 8:30 am Sunday morning December 30, 2001 in the back of a red Freemantle Repairs truck and trailer work van. The van was parked in the 9400 block of Government Road in Burnaby. The truck was checked as the result of routine patrols made in the area by a Burnaby Police officer. The police are continuing their investigation and have not ruled out foul play at this time. File #: 2001-64415 December 30, 2001
COLIN MICHAEL HOLBROOK (WAY)
On December 26, 2001 Agassiz RCMP responded to a report of a found body near the Weaver Creek Spawning Channels in Agassiz, BC. The deceased was subsequently identified as 27-year-old Colin Michael Holbrook. Approximately 2 years ago, Colin Michael Way legally changed his name to Colin Holbrook.
25-year-old Clinton Ray Stankewich (DOB 76-08-13) was arrested without incident on January 3, 2002 in Deroche. Stankewich appeared in Abbotsford Provincial Court on Monday January7, 2002 and has been charged with one count of second degree murder under Section 235 (1) of the Criminal Code, and one count of possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking under Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs & Substance Act. File #E-Division 2001-2138 December 26, 2001 UPDATED: Stankewich pleads guilty to manslaughter
KULJIT SINGH BUTTAR
Just after midnight, December 23, 2001, Richmond RCMP responded to shots fired call at a banquet hall located at 14500 River Road. First on the scene were off duty members, attending a social function nearby, who heard the shots and immediately responded to the lower floor of the banquet hall. Five (5) people were found to be suffering from gunshot wounds, and were given emergency first aid by our off-duty members, and an off-duty paramedic that was also at the RCMP function. Injuries ranged from superficial to serious. One of the five (5) individuals shot was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. He has been identified as Kuljit Singh Buttar, a 22 year old resident of Richmond. Buttar was the bodyguard for Bindy Johal who was gunned down in 1999. Injuries to the other four (4) individuals are considered non-life threatening. File #Richmond 2001-48244 December 23, 2001 UPDATED: He ran a death squad A history of organized crime in the Indo-Canadian community
CATHERINE McCLENAGHAN
An autopsy has revealed that 48 year old Catherine McClenaghan, found dead in her residence by police. Vancouver Police arrested a man at the Beatty St. sky train station in Vancouver. Paul Stanley Kent, 39, of Coquitlam has been charged with second degree murder in relation to the death of Catherine McClenaghan. Kent’s 2000 murder charges for the murders of McClenaghan's parents, Bill and Mildred Simpson were stayed by the crown. The south Burnaby couple was found bludgeoned to death in the garage of their home. File #Coquitlam 2001-49254 Dec. 17, 2001 UPDATED: Guilty plea in killing After the murders A fresh start
NAME NOT RELEASED
The public's help is being sought in order to determine the identity of a woman who was found on Colebrook Road in Surrey.
At 8:00 AM on December 13, 2001 the Surrey RCMP was called to the 13100 block of Colebrook Road for a report of a found body. When officers arrived, they found the body of a woman beside the road. The woman did not appear to have suffered from any obvious trauma and her cause of death is not yet known. In addition, the woman did not have any identification with her and despite media coverage of the event her identity is also not known. This death is being treated as suspicious.
The woman was wearing blue jeans, a black turtle neck shirt, a blue cardigan sweater and brown Hi Tec running shoes. She is believed to be of Asian or First Nations decent and was in her twenties. She is 5'1" and weighs approximately 120 pounds. She has a tattoo of a rose on her right upper back. File #Surrey 2001-131239 Dec. 13, 2001
RCMP Media Release
The team of RCMP and Vancouver City Police investigating the disappearance of 45 women from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside has sent four of it's members to Seattle to meet with Green River Task Force investigators.
The group, which left Vancouver today, includes two investigators, one crime analyst and one forensic biologist from the Vancouver RCMP Forensic Laboratory. They will meet with Seattle investigators tomorrow to discuss Gary Leon Ridgeway, the man charged with four of the murders linked to the Green River killer. The local task force investigators hope to obtain enough information about Ridgeway to determine whether or not he has been in the Vancouver area and, if so, if he can be connected to any of the missing women or to the unsolved murders of 40 BC women dating back 20 years. File #E-Division 2001 December 10, 2001
LINDA LEE ANDERSON & JOHN CLEVELAND HEASMAN
38 year old William James McCotter has been charged with two counts of Murder in the 2nd Degree in relation to a weekend incident in Langley during which 39 year old Linda Lee Anderson, 39, and John Cleveland Heasman, 37, were killed.
Langley RCMP were called to a reported altercation outside of an apartment complex in the 5200 block of 204th Street around 0120 Sunday morning, and when they arrived, found Anderson and Heasman severely injured. Both later died of their injuries. William James McCotter was taken into custody nearby. File #Langley 2001 December 3, 2001 UPDATED: Killer handed life sentence Double murder raise 'ex' fears Murder trial delayed
SUKHJINDER SINGH SAHOTA & GURPRETT SINGH BUTTER
Richmond - On November 21, 2001, at about 7:30 hrs, Richmond RCMP responded to the area of Dyke Road, east of No 4 Road, for a report of two (2) bodies. Both men had been bound and shot. Victim #1 identified as Sukhjinder Singh Sahota, 27 years old, of Surrey. Victim #2 identified as Gurprett Singh Butter, 25 years old, of Coquitlam. Buttar says the pair was killed over the same heroin deal that involved Sidhu, Bhatti and Mander. File #Richmond 2001-44225 November 21, 2001 UPDATED: Coquitlam man one of two found dead in execution-style murder He ran a death squad A history of organized crime in the Indo-Canadian community
LES TARNOWSKI
On Tuesday, October 23 at 11:30 at night Mr. Tarnowksi was killed when he attempted to stop a suspect from stealing his truck. The suspect hit several vehicles with the truck, then fled on foot. He is described as a 20 year old male, 5'7" to 5'8" , medium build, at the time he may have been wearing a dark colored sweater or jacket with light colored horizontal stripes. He may also have been injured as a result of the accidents. File #Burnaby 2001-52770 October 23, 2001 UPDATED: Paul Andrew Werner, 38, a drug-addled car thief was sentenced to seven years in prison Nov. 8, 2005. Charge laid in death
RAKINDER (Rick) SINGH BHATTI
A Surrey man in his mid 20's has died as a result of injuries he sustained in a drive by shooting that occurred in the Newton area of Surrey last night. At about 9:30 PM on October 9th, 2001, the Surrey RCMP responded to a complaint of a drive by shooting in the 12800 block of 85th Avenue. When police arrived, they discovered that a vehicle at that location, a burgundy Eagle Talon, had been struck a number of times with bullets. The driver of the vehicle, died as a result of his injuries. A passenger in the same vehicle, also a Surrey man in his mid 20's, did not sustain any injuries. It appears that the Eagle Talon had departed a parking lot at that location, having just left the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar Temple. The suspect vehicle in this shooting has been described as a dark colored mini van. The suspect vehicle fled the scene southbound on 128th Street from 85th Avenue. Bhatti was a friend of Narinder (Ned) Singh Mander is was kidnapped from his Surrey business by two men and has not been seen since. Mander and Bhatti were allegedly involved in a heroin smuggling scheme that went bad. File #Surrey 2001-106188 October 9, 2001 UPDATE: Richmond man still missing Mounties try to make link between shootings He ran a death squad A history of organized crime in the Indo-Canadian community
KAMALBIR (Kam) JAWANDA
A suspect has been charged following the Saturday September 29, 2001 homicide outside the Richmond residence of Sarbjit Singh Dhanda, a former Bindy Johal associate and friend of Rick Bhatti and Gary Sidhu, on Williams Road. Charged with one count of second degree murder and one count of attempted murder is Sarbjit Singh Dhanda, 25, Richmond B.C. Richmond RCMP have two suspects in custody. File #Richmond 2001-36804 Sept. 29, 2001 UPDATE: Dhanda gets eight years He ran a death squad A history of organized crime in the Indo-Canadian community
RYAN WAI FUNG KAM
Also known as Jay Leung, 23 was last seen on Sept. 20th, 2001 and has not been seen or heard of since. Saturday February 2nd, 2002, the investigators recovered the body in a remote wilderness area between Squamish and Whistler. It is believed that Mr. Kam's body had been there for five months. Feb. 6, 2002 24 year old Franjo Perovic was charged with First Degree Murder and 24 year old Adam Eric Sharpe was charged with Accessory to Murder. On April 15, 2002, 33 year old Mario Bradaric, was also formally charged with the Second Degree Murder of Mr. Kam. Police believe that Mr. Kam met his demise when he was lured from Coquitlam to conduct a drug transaction in the Vancouver area. File #Coquitlam 2002-37827 Sept. 20th, 2001
WILF WOLBERN
On September 13, 2001, at approximately 0630 hrs, Richmond RCMP received a report of a body lying in front of a business in the 8000 block of Bridgeport Road. Members responded and discovered the body of an adult male, clad only in underwear. Richmond RCMP are treating the death as suspicious. Serious Crimes investigators, as well as Forensic investigators attended the scene, and an investigation is underway. Mounties investigate suspicious death File #Richmond 2001-34308 September 13, 2001
NAME NOT RELEASED
Police were called to a Burnaby residence in the 7200 block of Kingsway on Monday, August 27th as the result of calls received from concerned neighbors. Upon entering the residence, police located the body of an unidentified male. The police are investigating the incident and are awaiting autopsy results to confirm cause of death. No further information is available at this time pending investigation. File #Burnaby 2001-42540 August 27, 2001
TYLER BRUCE HAWRYLUK
On Monday, August 20th, 2001 at approximately 11:30 p.m. hours, Burnaby RCMP were called to the corner of Willard Avenue and Thorn Street to a report of several shots fired. This lead police to discover a suspected Caucasian male believed to be in his early 20's (5' 10 ", 170 lbs., short brown hair) who was deceased at the scene from apparent gunshots. The deceased name is, Tyler Hawryluk, 22, from the lower mainland area. Hawryluk was an associate of the Buttar brothers and Bindy Johal. He was to have been executed by associates of Bal Buttar who believed he had been the triggerman in the attempted execution of Buttar two weeks earlier. File #Burnaby 2001-41452 August 20, 2001 UPDATE: Indo youth being caught up in gang violence Murder was probably gang related The way of the gun He ran a death squad A history of organized crime in the Indo-Canadian community
ROBERT FREDERICK HALDANE
Charges have been laid against three Surrey men in connection with the death of Frederick Haldane, 40, of 13816 116th Avenue in Surrey. Charged with manslaughter are three 24 year old males:
Michael Richard Boucher, Peter David Roberts and Trevor Todd Novecosky
During the late evening of August 17, 2001, members of the Surrey Detachment were dispatched to a possible break and enter in the 13800 block of 116th Street, Surrey. Upon arrival and interview of a resident of the area, the body of a 40 year old male was found close to a residence believed occupied by him. The male was deceased. Evidence indicates that the circumstances surrounding his death are suspicious but at the time, they are unknown and are still under investigation. A search of the single family dwelling house found a marihuana grow operation in the basement. It is unknown at this time if it's existence is related to the male's death. File #Surrey 2001-85027 August 17, 2001
KIRK HEIDENREICH
A 37-year-old man living in Parksville BC was arrested last Thursday on a charge of Second Degree Murder in connection with the stabbing death of a crew man on board a 65 foot boat that was tuna fishing in international waters approximately 45 miles off the Oregon coast on August 10th of this year. The captain of the Vancouver registered vessel Enterprise V initially notified US Coast Guard Officials of a fight that had occurred between his two crew members on board the ship. They were the only people on board the vessel at the time. The deceased, Kirk Heidenreich (Born: 67-Sept-23) of Maple Ridge, BC died at the scene.
The initial investigation was conducted by the US Coast Guard, the FBI and local law enforcement officials from Windchester Bay Oregon where the ship first docked following the incident. Investigational jurisdiction was turned over to the RCMP in view of the fact that all parties on board were Canadian, the vessel was Canadian registered and was in international waters at the time of the incident. Jaakko Juhani Makkonen (Born:64-Aug-16) of Parksville, BC faces a single count of Second Degree Murder. He was remanded in custody pending his next appearance in New Westminster Provincial Court. File #E-Division 2001-E6052 Aug. 10, 2001
WILLIAM JOSEPH BRUCE
The Surrey RCMP’s Serious Crime Section has arrested Lance Immerzeel, 32, a Vancouver man in connection with the August 4th, 2001 discovery of a body found near the Gateway Skytrain Station in Surrey. The body of 45-year-old Vancouver resident, William Joseph Bruce, was located lying in a field across from the skytrain station. File #Surrey 2001-79558 August 4, 2001 UPDATE: Review board slammed for releasing killer
Gary Rai and Baljit Singh (Bal) Buttar are shot at a Vancouver hair salon. Rai is shot dead and Buttar survives two bullets to the head. Others involved in the plot were former associate Tyler Hawryluk, Buttar's girlfriend and another associate he has dubbed "The Teeth." Aug. 3, 2001 He ran a death squad A history of organized crime in the Indo-Canadian community
NGHIA HUU NGO
The investigation into the murder of a man found at a residence in the 123000 block of 82nd Avenue in Surrey is continuing. Nghia Huu Ngo, 46, of Vietnamese decent, immigrated to Canada in 1990 and was unemployed at the time of his death. Extensive background checks have failed to locate any family for Nghia Huu Ngo File #Surrey 2001-72517 July 17, 2001
STEVEN WAYNE BEAUPRE
Philip James Roome, a forty-five year-old Langley male, was arrested and charged with Manslaughter as a result of new developments in the investigation of a July 2001 Fire Death in the Walnut Grove area. On July 3, 2001 the Langley Fire Department and Langley RCMP responded to a building fire on 80 Avenue in the Walnut Grove area of Langley. The body of Steven Wayne Beaupre, a thirty-one year-old Langley male, was located inside. Beaupre had died as a result of the fire. The building was an unoccupied house that was used for storage. File #Langley 2001-19793 July 3, 2001
JOHN ROGERS
John Rogers, 27, was shot by several men in an organized hit at a gas station. Police believe Rogers had a role in an earlier shooting involving a Hells Angel biker. April 29, 2001
ANNETTE ALLAN & "John Doe"
The body of Annette Allan was found floating in the New Westminster side of the Fraser River on June 4th, 2001. Her homicide is believed to be connected with a second homicide of an unknown male on May 12, 2001. This "John Doe" is described as a male with a dark complexion, 30-35 years, 5'10", stocky build, black curly hair with grey streaks, and a tattoo of wings on his upper left shoulder. He was wearing light colored blue jeans, a greyish long sleeve sweatshirt, new Dayton boots and a gold cable style necklace.
Police believe that both murders occurred at a residence, a well known Crack House, located at 13832 108th Avenue in Surrey. During the course of this investigation, the Surrey RCMP executed two search warrants, one on May 30th, 2001 and another on September 11th, 2001 at this rental property. An extensive search was conducted at the residence including a complete forensic examination of the home and yard and sonar tests to search for possible burial sites on the property.
While no burial sites were located, there is clear evidence to indicate other offenses ranging from assaults to drug trafficking to extortion occurred inside the 13832 108th Avenue address. Blood samples seized from the home have revealed at least five unknown DNA profiles. The DNA profiles are that of four women and one man. To date, police have not located the individuals belonging to these DNA samples. The house in question was a well known crack house and was frequented often by sex trade workers and drug addicts. In order to pay off their "habits", sex trade workers were often recruited to conduct robberies, thefts and break and enters. The Surrey RCMP is aware of the identity of the drug dealers who were supplying the crack house and are currently working on that portion of the investigation.
While the investigation into these two murders continues, the Surrey RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance. There were many individuals frequenting this North Surrey Crack House back in April May/June of 2001. Police are asking anyone with information about these two homicides or other offences that occurred in this residence to come forward.
On Friday, January 11th, 2002, four males and one female were arrested in connection with two separate Surrey homicides that occurred last year in North Surrey.
Charge with first degree murder of Annette Allan are: Joseph Francis Legassie - 38 years old of Surrey and Joanna Lee Larson - 31 years old of Surrey File #Surrey 2001-60883 UPDATED: Sentencing in House of Horrors case House of horror trial begins House of horrors suspect pleads guilty 'Horrors' trial ends in acquittal
DONALD ROMING
Roming, 40, the owner of the Loft Six nightclub, and a member of the elite Hells Angels Nomads chapter was was fatally shot on March 9, 2001, outside the Bar None club in Yaletown following an argument with two men in the bar shortly before closing time The men took the dispute outside and Roming was shot. Roming's murder remains unsolved. March 9, 2001
DAVID BAHAMONDE
The burned body of David Bahamonde, 23, was found in a torched car. Feb. 4, 2001
KEVIN PETERS
Two young men entered a motel and shot Kevin Peters, 21, in a drug deal gone wrong. Jan. 26, 2001
KHALIL ALKHALIL
Nineteen-year-old Khalil Alkhalil died from multiple gunshot wounds. Michael Alexander Naud, a 20-year-old Surrey man has been charged with second-degree murder. Naud fatally shot Khalil Alkhalil at Alkhalil's apartment in Surrey during an apparent financial dispute. The two men both pulled out guns and started shooting. Alkhalil was shot nine times. Six of those shots were in the back. Naud was shot once in the hand. Naud was acquitted of murder on grounds of self defence. Jan 19, 2001 Naud was shot and killed in Kelowna in July 2004 Murder sparks accusations against RCMP
ROSSANO (WALLY) VALENTINO DEKANICH
Penny stock promoter Wally Dekanich was shot in the chest at close range near the front door of his residence at 978 Lillooet Road. Mickie Phillip Smith, 54, was charged with first-degree murder. Jan. 9, 2001 UPDATED: Organized crime hits close to home Investigation stalls over money Contract killer gets life
KRISHAN SHARMA
The body of 24-year-old Krishan Sharma, who is known to police, is found in a pond under the Pattullo Bridge. Sources say Sharma was choked to death, stripped and burned because he was responsible for a shooting a short time before that left a man critically wounded. Jan. 15, 2001 He ran a death squad A history of organized crime in the Indo-Canadian community