Homicide investigators have been called to South Surrey after a child’s body was discovered in the trunk of a car Wednesday afternoon.
Mounties found the vehicle in a ditch near 35A Avenue and Crescent Road while responding to reports of a minor accident around 12:15 p.m.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said it doesn’t appear the victim died at the scene.
“We believe that the child was transported here. We don’t have a specific timeline on when the death occurred,” Sgt. Jennifer Pound told reporters.
The owner of the car, believed to the victim’s mom, was arrested and remained in custody as of Wednesday evening.
IHIT said it can’t comment on the victim’s age or gender.
"We're going to keep that close to us and that's simply because we want to notify the family first," said Sgt. Pound. "As you can well imagine, this is going to be absolutely devastating news for the family and we're going to take the time to deliver it to them, and sit down with them and deliver that tragic news."
The cause of death also won’t be confirmed until police receive the results of an autopsy, which is expected to take a few days.
The case was turned over to IHIT following a brief investigation by the Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit. Mounties and the B.C. Coroners Service are continuing to investigate under IHIT’s lead.
Officers are expected to remain in the neighbourhood canvassing residents into the night and again on Thursday.
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