Death in Armstrong

[DiMiT]

http://www.globaltvbc.com/rcmp+release+ ... story.html

Global says the DNA connection... good thing Castanet knows how to report the news in a full and succinct manner

[Oxl3y]

http://www.globaltvbc.com/rcmp+release+sketch+of+suspect+in+van+diest+homicide/6442528178/story.html

Global says the DNA connection... good thing Castanet knows how to report the news in a full and succinct manner

It was mentioned in Castanet's article too.

Moskaluk says they were able to link together the murder of Van Diest and the sexual assault through DNA, however, they do not have the outright identity of the suspect at this time.

[DiMiT]

I officially will eat crow and feel very sheepish... I had only looked at the post on the castanet page and not clicked thru to the full article. My most sincere apologies

[BTDT]

Media release from the RCMP - will be more accurate than what was reported by media
Armstrong
Update: Taylor Van Diest Homicide
Share | 2011-11-23 11:04 PST
RCMP connect Taylor Van Diest homicide to 2005 unsolved Kelowna sexual assault

On Wednesday November 23rd, 2011, RCMP investigators announced that DNA evidence collected during their investigation into the homicide of Taylor Van Diest has been linked to suspect DNA from an unsolved Kelowna sexual assault in 2005. Investigators are now releasing a composite drawing of the suspect as he looked in 2005.

The RCMP are asking anyone with information about this suspect to contact police via the dedicated tip line 1-888-688-4264.
Statement by Cpl Dan Moskaluk at news conference Wednesday :

As a result of their efforts, the RCMP investigative team from the Southeast District Major Crimes Unit now have profiled DNA evidence against the person who killed Taylor Van Diest. This DNA is from an unknown male. The investigative team is also announcing this suspect DNA matches the suspect DNA evidence from a sexual assault which occurred in Kelowna in April of 2005. The Kelowna sexual assault remains unsolved.

This suspect DNA sample is not contained within the known offender DNA data bank. Investigators can confirm the match, however, they do not have the outright identity of this person at this time. The investigators are working hard to identify this man although they would appreciate any assistance the public can provide to help them identify this man.

Based on this DNA evidence we believe that the man who killed Taylor Van Diest is the same man who sexually assaulted a Kelowna woman in April of 2005.

In order to safeguard the victim involved in the sexual assault investigation, we are only able to release the following details regarding the 2005 sexual assault.

The sexual assault occurred on April 12, 2005 and was reported to the Kelowna RCMP at that time. We can confirm that the assault occurred inside the Garden of Eden Escort Agency which was then, and still is, located in the downtown area of Kelowna. The victim was an employee of the escort agency at the time of the sexual assault.

The investigative team now have a composite drawing of the suspect as he appeared in 2005. I have that composite drawing displayed here today.

The man is described as follows:

•Caucasian male with a darker skin tone
•19-20 years of age (making him now 25-26 years old)
•dark colored eyes possibly brown, with short dark hair
•between 5'8" and 5'10" with a stocky build. He is not particularly fit or muscular.
•As you can see on the composite drawing of the man in 2005, he had large distinct side burns and noticeably thick eyebrows.
Please note that the description and this composite drawing are of how he appeared in 2005. (click image for larger version or view the poster here)

We believe the suspect is a resident of the Okanagan Valley. He was a resident of the Okanagan in the spring of 2005 and he was still a resident on Halloween night of this year. It is possible he lived outside of the valley for a period of time from 2005 until 2011.

We also believe that friends, family or associates of this man hold valuable information which will help solve these crimes.

We ask that residents of the Okanagan to think back to the days just prior to Taylor’s murder on Halloween night to see if they recall some form of conflict, or personal upset on the day or days leading up to Halloween. This may include, financial pressures, relationship pressures, job loss or other serious life stressor.

Immediately following the homicide, this young man may have had unexplained visible scratches to his face, neck or arms.

There may have also been changes to his regular routine, such as missed appointments, commitments to work or school.

Friends, family and associates would have likely observed noticeable changes in his mood on or around Halloween night, which may have included a withdrawal or loss of interest in his usual activities, changes in appetite, changes in sleep patterns, irritability, increased use of alcohol or drugs or changes in personal grooming and hygiene.

Although we believe he is a resident of the Okanagan he may have made an unplanned, sudden or unexplained departure from the area shortly after the murder on Halloween night of this year in Armstrong.

This individual may be financially dependent on others or collecting social assistance.

If you have suspicions of someone you know, but have been reluctant to come forward, please help us by contacting our dedicated tip line at 1-888-688-4264, your local RCMP or police service, or provide your information to Crimestoppers.
We once again ask that the general public remain vigilant and continue to take extra personal safety precautions in our communities, particularly in the Central and North Okanagan.

We recommend traveling in a group; or asking parents or friends for a ride. Travel areas of the community that have good visibility. Let family or friends know where you are going and when you expect to arrive. If you have a cell phone carry it. Report any suspicious activity right away.

Released by:

Cpl. Dan Moskaluk

Senior Media Relations Officer
South East and North District
1168 Main Street, Penticton B.C. V2A-5E8
Office: (250) 492-4300
Cell: (250) 863-7433
Fax: (250) 492-4851

Email: [email protected]



Email: [email protected]

[RockaTaz]

Does anyone remember Anything on the news about the sex assault in 2005 at the escort agency? I don't, but it was probably not given exposure due to the location and stigma. I'm just saying it would have been helpful to have gotten the POS off the streets then, when the sketch and description were current.

[tiaco123]

Oh yes, good work!! But, we still don't know who this man is, but he has had a previous record, that he never did do time for!!! Wow, Really makes a person feel safe, just as we have not felt safe since Oct. 31. Don't you feel it is time to get this person???? There must be ways of finding out where he lives, school lists, in Kelowna or elsewhere, why do you expect the public to find all the information, it is not our job. All we want is to feel SAFE again, and the family that Taylor had to leave, feel at peace! I rest "my" case.

[Phoenix Within]

Don't you feel it is time to get this person???? There must be ways of finding out where he lives, school lists, in Kelowna or elsewhere, why do you expect the public to find all the information, it is not our job.

See, who needs cops. All we need is the "Castanet Armchair Detective Agency" and all the crimes will be solved since we know more how to find people than the cops do!

[Fancy]

If it's not our job as private citizens trying to look out for one another, and the police need help to identify the suspect, I wouldn't know whose job it is.

[gordon_as]

Don't pay too much attention to the composite sketch. Remember , it was created by a police sketch artist 5 years ago based on the description given by a hooker. It may not even be close to what he looked like then or now. The scratches on the face or neck are the most likely thing to ID this guy. He was probably smart enough to leave town after the murder if his face was scratched up. Do you know of anyone who went on a sudden trip on Nov. 1st or shortly after ? Did one of your employees call in sick for a few days ? Anything ? Nothing is unimportant ! There are enough cops working this case to check out every tip called in.

[DWallis]

wow. That’s pretty offensive.

based on the description given by a hooker.

?

So she doesn't have any credibility because being sexual assaulted is ok if you're an escort?

BTW, escorts are not hookers.

He may have added or lost weight or muscle tone, gained piercings and shaved/grown his hair and facial hair, that doesn’t make it fair to say that the original sketch may be totally inaccurate because the description was given by a ‘hooker.’
Guess we’ll have to take the lying hookers word for it now anyway, because the credible 18 year old girl is dead in the ground so she can’t give a description.

[bcpaul]

Don't pay too much attention to the composite sketch.

So you know the guy? How do you know this sketch is not important?

[gordon_as]

Who said anything about sexual assault being OK ? Why is it wrong to call a hooker a hooker ? Would you prefer I call her a sex trade worker ? Does it make any difference ? Most "escorts" ARE hookers , they just call themselves escorts because you can't put your "hooker" add in the Yellow Pages.

[imahoser]

Oh yes, good work!! But, we still don't know who this man is, but he has had a previous record, that he never did do time for!!! Wow, Really makes a person feel safe, just as we have not felt safe since Oct. 31. Don't you feel it is time to get this person???? There must be ways of finding out where he lives, school lists, in Kelowna or elsewhere, why do you expect the public to find all the information, it is not our job. All we want is to feel SAFE again, and the family that Taylor had to leave, feel at peace! I rest "my" case.

Are you completely nuts?!

IT IS OUR JOB JUST AS MUCH AS IT IS THE COPS JOB! wow...
learn how to read, watch csi, I dunno.. just get a clue please.
I'm stunned by your comment.

And Hooker?

[gordon_as]

Don't pay too much attention to the composite sketch.

So you know the guy? How do you know this sketch is not important?

Do I know the guy ????? Are you just trying to be stupid ?

The sketch is just that , a sketch , created by a person who has never seen the subject , under the direction of a third party who just had a traumatic experience. It is also 5 years Old.
I am not saying the sketch is not important , If you happen to know someone who looks just like it , by all means pick up the phone. What I am saying is that the person who committed the murder may look Absolutely Nothing like the sketch. If we all just look around for someone who looks like the sketch , we won't find him.

Hypothetical situation : Joe Blow's employee didn't show up for work for the next 3 days , and when he came back he had some lame excuse about a sick aunt. Joe thinks it's odd but doesn't give it another thought because employee does not look anything whatsoever like the sketch.

[Andy S]

A poster wrote "The sketch is just a sketch".
The perpetrator is probably already on the radar screen of the police. The sketch based on the escort agency's victim tells volumes to the investigators. In 2005 through the cracks this went - I can't find mention in archives.
Sideburns like that take a long time to grow, but the shape shaving was a constant thing. Bad actor had enough money to tend to his unique facial hair statement. Not a real possibility with a drifting night crawler, at that young age, you'd think.
An acquaintance from that time will recognize/remember 'John w/ his funny sideburns, and I hope the warrant judge is handy.