Lake Country man charged with second-degree murder of his wife

LAKE COUNTRY — A lengthy police investigation has led to the arrest of a Lake Country resident suspected of his wife's murder.

Investigators initially thought the 2016 drowning death of Arlene Westervelt was an accident, a media RCMP release says. Now the Southeast District Major Crime Unit says the case is believed to be a homicide. 

Arlene died on June 26, 2016, at age 56, while canoeing and picnicking along Okanagan Lake. The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team found her body the following day in 11 metres (35 feet) of water, and about 30 metres (100 feet) from the shore. 

On Friday, April 6, police charged her husband, 63-year-old Lake Country resident Lambertus (Bert) Westervelt, with second-degree murder.

“Bert Westervelt was taken into police custody without incident on Friday afternoon in Lake Country,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in the release. “RCMP Southeast District Major Crime investigators are very grateful for the public’s assistance throughout the course of this investigation.”

Bert Westervelt has since been remanded into custody and is expected to appear in court on Monday April 8, in Kelowna.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Southeast District Major Crime Unit at the dedicated tip line 1-877-987-8477.

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