Bodies of two people found in burnt-out car near Penticton identified

RCMP have released the identities of the two Penticton residents whose bodies were found in a burned out car near the city last month.

The bodies of Alannah Morningstar Brown and Douglas Barker, both 30 years old, were discovered on Sept. 15 when Summerland firefighters were called to a vehicle fire near the Penticton Shooting Range.

RCMP publicly identified the pair in a news release today, Oct. 24, as investigators look to the public for more information.

"We have learned that both Brown and Barker were last seen on Sept. 14, the day before their bodies were discovered," B.C. RCMP major crime Supt. Sanjay Wijayakoon said in the release.

Their deaths are suspicious, but police have not said whether or not it's a homicide investigation.

"The B.C. RCMP serious crime unit knows there are people who saw Ms. Brown and Mr. Barker in the days leading up to their deaths and we are urging them to speak with police," Wijayakoon said.

Penticton RCMP officers were the first police on the scene, then called in the Southeast District major crimes unit. The provincial major crimes section took over the investigation on Sept. 17. On that day, police said another vehicle was discovered burning near Oliver and officers were trying to determine whether it was related, but RCMP haven't said whether or not there's a connection.

If you have information about this incident, you are can contact the Southeast District major crimes unit tip line at 1-877-987-8477.

— This story was updated at 2:48 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, to correct RCMP's misspelling of Alannah Morningstar Brown's name.

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