Human Remains Discovered in Langley River; Investigation Underway
RCMP and BC Coroners Service searching for evidence after discovery near Nicomekl River. Identity and cause of death still undetermined.
A member of the public discovered human remains along a creek bed near the Nicomekl River in Langley on May 17, sparking an investigation by RCMP and the BC Coroners Service.
The remains were found near 53A Avenue and 206 Street around 3:52 p.m. Langley RCMP confirmed they are human, but exposure to the elements has complicated identification efforts. Neither the identity nor the cause of death has been determined.
Investigators from Langley RCMP and the E-Division Underwater Recovery Team have been on scene, conducting searches of the river for any items that may be connected to the case. The province's coroners service is working in parallel to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.
"Our investigators are working in close partnership with the BC Coroners Service to determine the circumstances surrounding the death," said Constable Meghan Marsden in a statement.
This marks the second discovery of human remains in the Metro Vancouver area within a month. In April, two climbers found remains near Shannon Falls in the Sea to Sky corridor, which authorities are still working to identify.
Anyone with information related to the Langley discovery is asked to contact Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200, quoting file number 2026-15130. The coroners service typically takes weeks or longer to fully determine identity and cause of death, depending on the condition of the remains.
These investigations underscore the ongoing work of authorities to identify deceased persons and return closure to families.