Woman charged in North Okanagan murder

A 59-year-old woman has been charged with the first degree murder of what appears to be her partner following a shooting that took place near Armstrong in the North Okanagan.

Court documents show Lynda Elsie Saundry, born 1961, allegedly used a firearm to kill Barry Jones, 55, on or around July 29. Saundry was charged with first degree murder Aug. 3.

Details surrounding the case are still unclear but the file number assigned by the courts is used in intimate partner violence cases, and associated with domestic abuse. According to the documents Saundry also went under the names Lynda Mackenzie and Lynda Volker.

"The investigation has progressed to a point where the B.C. Prosecution Service has approved a charge of first degree murder against Ms. Saundry. The accused and the victim were known to one another and our major crime investigators are now focussing on preparing for the judicial process," B.C. RCMP Major Crimes Operations Officer, Supt. Sanjaya Wijayakoon said in a media release, Aug 4.

On July 30 the RCMP released a media stating a body had been discovered at a home situated along Emery Louis Road near Round Lake outside of Armstrong  The release stated that remains were found inside the home, and police were investigating the suspicious death.

The media release states the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is continuing to support both the Jones’ family and his community.

Saundry remains in custody and is due to appear in court Aug. 17.

— This story was updated 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 to include new information from RCMP.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.