Woman charged with manslaughter in teen’s death in Penticton

PENTICTON – A woman has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection to the death of a 17-year-old boy over a year ago in Penticton.

Penticton RCMP arrested Kiera Bourque, 21, today, May 29, following a year-long investigation, according to an RCMP media release.

Police responded to a call about the suspicious death of a 17-year-old boy at a Penticton area home in April 2017. Bourque, who was the teenager’s companion at the time, called 911 to report him in medical distress but upon arrival of B.C. Ambulance personnel and police, the teen was found unresponsive and could not be revived.

"Although initially believed that the man’s death was attributable to a medical condition, further information and evidence was obtained in August of 2017, which led RCMP investigators and the B.C. Coroners Service to categorize his death as a homicide," RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says in the release.

Bourque appeared in Penticton court today, May 29, facing a manslaughter charge.

Police say the public was not made aware of the homicide due to the sensitive nature of the case.

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