Police defend lack of warning after first of two deaths involving escorts

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. – The RCMP are defending the decision not to issue a warning earlier in a case in which two women in the sex trade were found dead on separate dates, saying there was early evidence to suggest the first case was a suicide.

An RCMP-led integrated homicide unit issued a public warning this week after two women who were known to be online escorts were found dead in the same apartment building almost two weeks apart.

But groups that advocate for sex workers say the warning should have come after Jill Lyons was found, on Aug. 12, instead of waiting until a second woman, Karen Nabors, was found dead on Aug. 25.

Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the RCMP has released a statement that says early evidence suggested Lyons’ death was a suicide, and information about possible suicide cases are handled with extra sensitivity.

Pound says police issued the warning because of the similarities between the women, but she also says investigators have yet to confirm or rule out whether foul play was involved.