BURNABY, B.C. -- Police remained on scene at a South Burnaby towing lot Thursday morning after human remains were found inside a vehicle on Wednesday.
Burnaby RCMP says its frontline officers were originally called to Mundie’s Towing and Recovery on Thorne Avenue, not far from Marine Way, for reports of human remains in a vehicle.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has since been called in.
IHIT confirms the vehicle was burned on Meadow Avenue, about five minutes way from the towing lot, around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22.
RCMP cordoned off an area of Meadow Avenue Thursday, but a patch of burned grass could be seen beyond the police tape.
It’s unclear when the vehicle was towed to the lot — or how badly it was damaged.
Investigators with the RCMP’s Forensic Search Evidence Recovery Team were careful to tarp the vehicle, and appeared to place sheets near a forensics tent to block the view Thursday.
Burnaby firefighters, including a fire investigator, were also on scene at the towing lot and appeared to be using heavy machinery on the burned vehicle.
Police have given no details on the victim, and have not said who made the grisly discovery Wednesday.
“Based on the investigation to date, police do not consider this to be a random act and it is not believed that there is any danger to the public at this time,” Burnaby RCMP said in a news release.
The tow lot did not confirm any information about how the body was found, referring all questions to police.
It’s not known what conditions the remains are in, including whether the body was also burned, but a worker from a nearby business told CTV News he had noticed a foul smell in the area Wednesday, not long after police arrived.
IHIT, which is leading the investigation, says investigators are still working to identify the victim.
