Body found in burned out vehicle at Sumas Mountain Regional Park in Abbotsford

ABBOTSFORD — Abbotsford police are investigating the discovery of human remains in a burned out vehicle at Sumas Mountain Regional Park on Friday (Jan. 3) afternoon.

Abbotsford Police Patrol Officers responded to a report of a vehicle fire at 2:46 p.m. along the Forest Service Road within the park. When Abbotsford Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze, officers found what are believed to be human remains inside a red 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander.

The Abbotsford Police Major Crime Unit is leading the preliminary stages of the investigation and is working closely with the BC Coroners Service to identify the remains. Due to the complexity of the case, additional investigative resources are being deployed.

Sumas Mountain Regional Park has been closed to the public as officers continue to gather evidence at the scene. The investigation will transition to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), which will provide further updates as the case progresses.

Police are seeking assistance from the public and are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was in the Sumas Mountain area Friday and may have seen the red Mitsubishi Outlander. Investigators are also requesting dashcam footage from vehicles in the area that day.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the IHIT Infoline at 1-877-551-4448.