RCMP investigate death of Summerland man as ‘homicide’

WEST KELOWNA – A suspicious death investigation has morphed into a homicide probe as RCMP try to put together the final moments of a Summerland man who died in West Kelowna.

Tura Stephen McCarty, 22, of Summerland was found dead inside a vehicle parked on Bear Creek Road about two kilometres past Parkinson Road in West Kelowna on Jan. 6.

At first, RCMP announced they considered the death suspicious, but today, Jan. 11, confirmed the death was a homicide.

“The RCMP strongly believes that this was not a random attack, and recognizes how crimes of this nature are disturbing to the members of the community,” Kelowna RCMP Supt. Nick Romanchuk says in a news release. “I would like to assure the public that all the resources necessary for an investigation of this magnitude are in place and that every effort is being made to identify and apprehend the suspect as quickly as possible.”

The RCMP are looking for the public’s help as investigators try to piece together the last moments of McCarty’s life.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or who had been in contact with McCarty during the evening of January 5, 2016 and early morning hours of January 6, 2016 is asked to call Cpl. Clayton Wiebe of the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880.

Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.