The family of missing B.C. teen Delores Brown has been contacted after human remains were found by a group of kayakers off the coast of a Gulf Island Wednesday night, according to police.
But RCMP aren’t yet confirming whether the remains are those of 19-year-old Brown, who went missing from Penelakut Island last month.
The kayakers reported finding the remains in the waters off Norway Island, just east of Penelakut.
Island District RCMP spokesman Cpl. Darren Lagan said police are working with the BC Coroners Service to try to identify the body.
Police announced on Wednesday they believed foul play was suspected in Brown’s disappearance.
Officers from the Vancouver Island Major Crime Unit, Island District Tactical Team, RCMP Air Services as well as search and rescue teams had been scouring Penelakut Island, east of Ladysmith, for any sign of the missing teen.
Brown, who is First Nations, was last seen on July 27 and reported missing two days later.
She had never gone missing before and the disappearance was uncharacteristic of her, according to family and friends.
"There's more at play here, there may be criminality at play here," Island RCMP spokesman Cpl. Darren Lagan said before the body was found. "We're hoping that will spur some information to come forward, and increase the pressure on the community to help us come to an answer in this case."
No suspects have been arrested but police say they do not believe there is a risk to the public.
Anyone with information is asked to call Ladysmith RCMP at 250-245-2215 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
