Charges have been laid against a Surrey man in connection to the murder of two Mission, B.C. residents in 2008, in which the police were heavily criticized for not thoroughly investigating the emergency call.
Lisa Dudley was left bleeding and tied to a chair for four days after the first call to police from a rural Mission home on Sept. 22, 2008. She was discovered by a neighbour but died while she was being air lifted to a local hospital.
Her boyfriend, Guthrie McKay, died at the scene from gunshot wounds.
The responding officer was dispatched when authorities initially received a call of six shots fired, but he said he didn't see anything and didn't get out of his squad car to conduct a further investigation. Const. Mike White left the scene after 13 minutes to attend another call.
White was docked a single day's pay at an RCMP disciplinary hearing back in March.
After the incident, RCMP policy was changed to require officers to speak directly to the person who makes a 911 call about shots being fired.
Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says investigators believe the incident was targeted.
Dudley's stepfather, Mark Surakka, said Friday he is grateful to investigators, but the family feels bittersweet.
"It's a mix of relief and sorrow," said Surakka.
"Lisa would be alive today if the scene had been attended in a proper manner."
Jack Douglas Woodriff, 52, was arrested Thursday afternoon and made his first court appearance today in Abbotsford. He is facing two counts of first-degree murder.
Neither victim had a criminal record or was known to police.
With files from The Canadian Press
