Investigators say a man whose body was found after he presumably drowned in the waters off of Protection Island has been identified.
Kent Schroeder, 59, was reported missing after an incident on April 11 in which police were called for a report of a couple fighting on a boat moored at a buoy near Protection Island, off the coast of Nanaimo.
About 40 minutes later, witnesses reported that a man and woman were in the water calling for help.
A hypothermic and intoxicated woman was eventually rescued from the water and taken to hospital, but Schroeder could not be found and was later presumed to have drowned.
His body was discovered nearly a month later, on May 3, when a nearby resident spotted it floating on the surface of the water near Protection Island.
Nanaimo RCMP have not said whether they consider Schroeder’s death suspicious, but confirmed to CHEK News on Tuesday that they are still trying to determine how he ended up in the water.
Those living near the boat said fighting between the pair had been common in the months leading up to the incident and police had attended the boat before.
Police are asking any witnesses that may have seen Schroeder or heard anything suspicious around the Nanaimo Harbour on the evening of Monday, April 11 to contact them at 250-754-2345 and quote file number 2022-12274.
CHEK News
