It’s a sunny Friday at Metchosin’s local watering hole. But despite the friendly chatter, locals have something looming in the back of their minds.
It’s been seven days since 60-year-old father and government worker Martin Payne was found dead in his Metchosin home.
“Was it a personal thing, or was it random? I mean it makes you stop and wonder,” said Ina Pederson.
“It hasn’t been explained to the public. So, it’s kind of creepy,” added Jackie Desrosches.
“I’m sure a lot of people are very upset and probably confused what happened and want to learn more information,” said Hayley Mccabe.
Police so far have been tight-lipped. They say it’s to protect the ongoing investigation, but it’s left the public to come up with their own theories.
“I did hear that prisoners escaped and it’d be really scary if that was what happened,” said MccAbe.
Many online, pointing out how the timelines of Metchosin’s recent prison break match up with that of Payne’s death.
On July 7, 2019, at 6:45 pm police say two inmates James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage escaped from William Head Institution in Metchosin. Two days later in the early morning, neighbours on Brookview drive where Payne lived, hear an unusual commotion. Later that afternoon, Oak Bay police find Payne’s red Ford F150 parked on Woodburn Avenue. That night, the escaped prisoners are located and arrested in Esquimalt.
Then, three days later, West Shore RCMP find Martin dead.
And police who said they didn’t have an update Friday so far aren’t discounting any theories.
And many in Metchosin say the past seven days have been nerve-wracking.
“Makes you lock your doors at night now, for sure,” said Desrosche.
Kori Sidaway
