‘I have killed her’: Crown says ex-husband of slain Lumby woman admitted to killing

CONTENT ADVISORY

The day after Lumby resident Tatjana Stefanski was reported missing, her ex-husband Vitali Stefanski told police that he was responsible.

“Yes, she is dead. Yes, I have killed her,” Vitali told the officer.

Crown prosecutor Rigel Tessmann relayed the story during his opening submission for Vitali’s second-degree murder trial that is underway in Kamloops.

The court heard today, May 26, that Tatjana’s body was found with at least 21 sharp wounds in it, down an embankment near the 19-kilometre mark on a dirt forest road near Mable Lake.

Nearby, police found a bloody knife with only two people’s DNA on it – Tatjana’s on the blade, and Vitali’s on the handle.

The Crown prosecutor said Vitali and Tatjana had met as teenagers in Germany and had a daughter before moving to Canada. They had a son and separated in 2019, and continued having contact because of parenting time.

On the morning of April 13, 2024, Vitali visited the home where the 44-year-old lived with her two children and partner, Jason Gaudreault, in Lumby.

He gave his young son a suitcase, telling him that everything in it, and everything in a nearby storage locker, was his.

He left his daughter a voicemail, saying she and her brother were alone in the world now and would have to look out for one another.

Soon afterwards, Tatjana disappeared. The police were notified and an appeal to look out for her and Vitali’s vehicle was posted on Facebook.

“While the security footage is very grainy, you can see two figures getting in the Audi from the passenger side before the vehicle leaves the property and heads toward Lumby,” the Crown said.

Police began looking for Tatjana and Vitali, and later that day found his car on the Lumby Mabel Lake Road.

There was blood on all the seats.

RCMP officers searched the area but didn’t find anyone.

The next morning, as the car was being towed, Vitali emerged from the woods in bare feet.

“This is my car and I’m the reason you are here. Yes, she is dead. Yes, I have killed her,” he said.

Vitali was arrested but later released.

It was six weeks later, on May 31, 2024, that Vitali was charged with the second-degree murder of Tatjana.

Crown prosecutors will give evidence over the next two and a half weeks, with the trial slated to take five weeks.

Vitali has pleaded not guilty.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

NOTE TO READERS: If you find yourself or someone you know in need of support please contact VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808. VictimLink BC provides information and referrals to all victims, as well as immediate crisis response to victims of sexual and family violence.