IHIT defends decision to hold information about escort deaths
Posted August 27, 2013 2:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS1130) – Police are explaining why it took so long to tell the public about an investigation into the suspicious deaths of one of two sex trade workers in New Westminster.
Both women were discovered in the same apartment building at 11th Street and Queens Avenue. Jill Lyons’ body was found August 12th and Karen Nabors was found dead Sunday.
After concerns were raised over the timing of the warning, Sergeant Jennifer Pound says they held back the discovery of the two dead women because they originally thought the first death could be a suicide.
“As police officers we are morally, ethically and legally responsible to balance the protection of the public and the integrity of the investigation. In cases, where suicide is a possibility, there is a particular emphasis on the protection of information in order to be empathetic and understanding to the sensitive issues that surround some of our cases,” explains Pound.
She says foul play has not been confirmed or ruled out in either of the deaths.
“Sometimes we just need further testing whether it be through autopsy or toxicology results to shed some light on what occurred and that’s the case in these two instances.”
She admits it would be premature to speculate about one person being linked to these incidents. “We can’t confirm at this time if homicide is a factor.”
IHIT continues to ask people engaging in a high risk lifestyle to take extra precautions.
