The body of a 59-year-old man was discovered near downtown Nanaimo, say police.
Nanaimo RCMP told CHEK News that the body was found between The Oxy Pub and Sushi Kura on Fitzwilliam Street in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter on Dec. 26 at around 5:45 a.m.
Forensic investigators were on scene collecting in an area around the pub that had been blocked off by police.
BC Coroners Service also attended the scene.
In a media release issued on Saturday afternoon, Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien said the 59-year-old man had no fixed address and was last seen at around 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 25.
He also said investigators working the case were told that people heard “loud noises” coming from the area where the body was found on Friday evening and are now asking anyone with information to come forward.
“Investigators would like to speak to anyone who heard or saw anything in this area during the evening of Dec. 25 or the early morning hours of Dec. 26, or interacted with the deceased prior to him being located,” O’Brien said.
In a response to questions from CHEK News, O’Brien would not specifically comment on whether foul play is suspected, only saying that the press release “speaks for itself.”
The man’s family has been notified.
Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Unit is now leading the investigation.
@NanaimoRCMP investigators are on scene of a death in Old City area of downtown Nanaimo. Block stretching from Richards St. to Selby St. is now police tape, with details expected shortly @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/tlFASaEeuc
— Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) December 26, 2020
Forensic investigators collecting evidence at the scene where the body of a 59-year-old man was found in Nanaimo on Boxing Day. (Skye Ryan/CHEK News)
Forensic investigators collecting evidence at the scene where the body of a 59-year-old man was found in Nanaimo on Boxing Day. (Skye Ryan/CHEK News)
Nicholas Pescod
Skye Ryan
