UPDATED WITH FULL STORY: Police find body believed to be missing Nanaimo teen Makayla Chang

CHEK

WATCH: Police have found a body in Nanaimo that they believe to be missing 16-year-old Makayla Chang. Skye Ryan reports. 

 

On Thursday, Nanaimo RCMP said they have recovered a body believed to be that of Makayla Chang. They are treating the incident as a homicide investigation.

In a release, police said the remains were found in Nanaimo, but they aren’t specifying when or where, or providing any further comment today. They say the investigation is being led by the Nanaimo Serious Crime Unit, along with other police resources. 

Chang was last seen on March 17 in Nanaimo where she lived and attended school. She was reported missing to police on March 22. 

The teenager, who was cared for by her grandmother since she was three-years-old, had been staying with 57-year-old Steven Bacon at a South Nanaimo home off and on for two months, despite protests from her grandmother.

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The teen then disappeared. Investigators executed two search warrants at the home&nbsp;Bacon and Chang has been living in.

On April 6, police said they had found and spoken with Bacon and that Chang was not with him. He has not been identified as a suspect or a person of interest.&nbsp;

Police said they do not believe the public is at risk. The family has asked for privacy at this time.

Chang was a previous student of John Barsby Community School and was later registered at Cedar Secondary. Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools released a statement Thursday saying it “would like to send out heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Makayla Chang.”

“It is expected that staff and students will grieve under these very difficult times, therefore, the district has prepared counselling services for anyone affected by this tragedy,” the statement also said.

One of Trudeau’s closest friends, Kira Trudeau, described Chang as open and welcoming.&nbsp;

“She was always an amazing person and the world is definitely going to be different without her,” Trudeau said tearfully.&nbsp;

“It’s really hard. I’ll always remember the times we spent together.”

In lieu in flowers, the family has asked for donations to go to the Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo. 

Alexa HuffmanAlexa Huffman

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