Two men have been charged in the murder of a young Mission, B.C. resident who disappeared six years ago.
Joshua Bowe was just 21 years old when his foster parents reported him missing in November 2010, triggering a years-long investigation into what happened.
Sadly, that investigation eventually developed from a missing person case to a murder probe, and on Monday the RCMP announced it had gathered enough evidence to secure charges against two suspects.
“Even though the nature of investigation may have changed since initial reports, the police remained committed to finding whoever was responsible for Joshua’s disappearance,” Insp. Donna Richardson said in a news release.
“Joshua and his loved ones deserved that.”
The accused have both been charged with first-degree murder, but their names can’t be released because they were underage at the time of Bowe’s killing, Mounties said.
The RCMP has not discussed a potential motive in the case, but said the victim and suspects are believed to have known each other.
Following the RCMP’s announcement, Bowe’s family thanked police as well as the community for trying to help bring him home.
“When we discovered he was missing, what surprised me so much was how many people knew him and cared,” the young man’s grandmother, Hope Bowe, said in a statement.
“I know he can’t come home anymore and I miss him. He meant everything to me. I wish I could hate the two boys who did this, but their futures look so scary and there are two other families who are also coming to terms with this. I can only imagine how they feel.”
Though charges have been laid, the RCMP is continuing to investigate the case. Investigators asked anyone who has information on Bowe’s murder to contact their local police department.
