West Vancouver murder 'a tragic incident of family violence,' IHIT says as charge laid

West Vancouver is seen from Vancouver in this file photo. (Shutterstock.com)

A 39-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in a case investigators are calling "a tragic incident of family violence."

Michael Dean Boretsky was charged Friday, less than 24 hours after a homicide in West Vancouver's Ambleside district, according to a Saturday news release from the Lower Mainland's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

The West Vancouver Police Department was called around 1 a.m. Friday to check on the well-being of a 911 caller in the area. When officers arrived, they found "a deceased woman with injuries that appeared to be suspicious," IHIT said.

A suspect was identified at the scene and taken into custody, and IHIT took over the investigation.

Homicide investigators did not elaborate on the relationship between Boretsky and his alleged victim.

"We believe that this was a tragic incident of family violence," said Cpl. Esther Tupper, in the release.

"As the parties were known to one another, investigators believe this to be an isolated event.”

Online court records indicate Boretsky's next appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 18, in North Vancouver provincial court.

Though a murder charge has been laid, IHIT said it continues to ask anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators by calling 1-877-551-4448 or emailing [e-mail].