For the second consecutive day, authorities discovered a woman’s body near Vancouver’s shoreline. The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and the coroner were called to the scene around 1:30 p.m. on Monday after a deceased woman was found near the Kitsilano Yacht Club.
“The cause of her death has not been determined, and it is not yet known whether her death is the result of a crime,” stated Sgt. Steve Addison of the VPD in a press release. He added that investigators are examining whether this case is linked to another recent discovery.
On Sunday morning, another woman’s body was found in the water off Sunset Beach. Both women remain unidentified.
Sgt. Addison reported that a passerby noticed a body floating face down in the shallow water around 10 a.m. on Sunday and alerted authorities. The VPD’s Missing Persons Unit, Major Crime Section, and the BC Coroners Service are currently investigating the incident.
“We’ve checked previous missing persons reports to determine whether or not anybody matching the description of the woman had been previously reported missing. We know she had some tattoos. So, we’ve looked at the tattoos in our database to determine whether or not she may have previously been reported missing. At this point, we don’t know who she is. And her cause of death has not been determined,” said Addison.
The deceased woman is believed to be a Black woman in her 20s or 30s, though these details are unconfirmed. Distinctive markings, scars, and tattoos will assist police in identifying her and notifying her family.
While Addison mentioned there is no immediate reason to suspect foul play, the BC Coroners Service is still determining the cause of death. Investigators are also exploring various possibilities, including accidental falls from vessels or suicides from bridges, as bodies can sometimes wash ashore long after such incidents.
Despite the large crowds in downtown Vancouver for the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks on Saturday night, Addison stated, “there’s nothing to suggest that this person had been at the fireworks or there’s any link to the fireworks.”
The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover the identities of both women and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
