Submitted. IHIT, along with Mission RCMP are asking for extra vigilance following an Arson that has now become a homicide investigation.
On April 30th, 2014 shortly before 05:00 a.m., Mission RCMP along with Mission Fire/Rescue Service responded to a mobile home fire in the 32300 Lougheed Highway in Mission. Upon arrival the First Responders located a fully engulfed mobile home. Mission Fire/Rescue Service extinguished the fire and located a deceased male inside the mobile home.
Mission RCMP secured the scene and upon closer examination came to the conclusion that the fire may have been deliberately set. Mission RCMP requested the assistance of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) and worked in partnership to advance the investigation.
On May 2nd, 2014 an extensive search of the crime scene was conducted by the fire Investigators, IHIT investigators and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section. The preliminary information suggests that the fire was deliberately set and as such IHIT has since assumed conduct of the investigation.
The victim was identified as 86 years old, William Philip Murphy.
“We are in the very early stages of this investigation and we are working in partnership with Mission RCMP and Fire to establish what happened. We are asking members of the public to be vigilant and call the Mission RCMP if they notice suspicious activities in their neighbourhood.” says Cpl. Dominic Duchesneau.
IHIT is asking anyone who may have information about this arson to call, the IHIT Tipline at 1-877-551-4448 or by email.
If you wish to remain anonymous you can call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip on their website.