BURNABY, B.C. -- Officials are investigating what they're calling a "suspicious death" following the discovery of human remains in a Metro Vancouver park.
The remains were discovered shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday at Greentree Village Park, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a statement more than eight hours later.
Neighbours reported seeing a fire in the park overnight.
“What I can confirm is that when the frontline officers did respond to this area and when they found the human remains, there was evidence of burning. To what extent, I am not aware,” said Det. Lara Jansen in a news conference Thursday morning.
IHIT has been unable to identify the victim.
“Investigators believe it's a woman, but due to the circumstances involved with the burning of the body, that has not yet been confirmed,” said Jansen.
The discovery prompted a partial closure of Wayburne Drive, and much of the park was blocked off by yellow police tape as evidence was gathered.
Officials appeared to be focusing on a trail that runs alongside the park.
One neighbour told CTV News that she saw two men acting suspiciously near the park last night.
“We saw them go through a trail in the woods. Which was dark, fairly dark, and they had no lights on their bikes or anything, no bike helmets on. I know one of them for sure had a backpack on,” said Andrea, who lives nearby.
She says the park is very popular with families.
“I’m a little nervous, it’s a little disturbing actually because I walk in the backwoods here behind the park with my dog quite frequently, and so do lots of people.”
Liz Biggar could see the crime scene from her backyard.
She says she didn’t see or hear anything overnight, but was surprised to see the massive police presence.
“I've lived here 45 years, we've never had an incident like this. So, I'm not sure. I'm not really not too worried about it. It's a pretty safe neighborhood,” Biggar told CTV News.
“Any time there is a suspicious death, let alone in a public place – at the park as we can see, and this, by all accounts, is known to be a busy park in a family neighborhood – certainly it is concerning,” Jansen said.
Jansen is asking anyone who sees suspicious activity of any kind to report it to police.
“What I would encourage at this time is that members of this community – and every community – remain vigilant. Take care of one another.”
Members of IHIT are working with the Burnaby RCMP, forensics team and coroner's service on the investigation, which IHIT says is in its early stages.
Their first priority is to identify the remains, Jansen said in the team's statement.
"The neighbourhood is a mixed-use residential and commercial area and believed to be used frequently, even throughout the overnight hours."
The team asked anyone with information or video from surveillance or dashboard cameras to come forward.
IHIT says it does not have any suspect or vehicle descriptions to release at this point.
