Mounties deem Nanaimo death a homicide, ID victim
Mounties say a man who was found dead after a Nanaimo, B.C., house fire last week was the victim of a homicide.
Police and firefighters were called to a house on Athletic Street at approximately 5 p.m. Thursday, when neighbours saw black smoke billowing from the windows of the home.
Once the flames were extinguished, firefighters searched the home and discovered the body of an adult male.
Police identified the victim in a statement Monday as Trevor Stross, 40, of no fixed address. The RCMP is releasing the man's identity in an effort to further their investigation, police said.
"Investigators have determined that Stross recently arrived in Nanaimo and was known to travel between Nanaimo and Victoria," according to police.
Investigators initially deemed the death suspicious and the case was turned over to the local RCMP's serious crime section.
Neighbours told CTV News the home had been frequented by the RCMP and was the scene of a police raid several days before the fire and the discovery of the body.
Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson Const. Gary O'Brien confirmed Friday afternoon that the house was visited by police "dozens of times in the last year" and was recently the subject of a police search.
Anyone who had recent interactions with Stross is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.