A 21-year-old man and 15-year-old youth face charges of first-degree murder and indignity to human remains in connection with the death of a New Westminster woman whose body was found in a Burnaby park last week.
First responders were called to Greentree Village Park off Garden Grove Drive at 1:54 a.m. on March 18 for reports of a fire, assistant fire Chief Greg Young told the NOW.
“The engine arrived to a bush and grass fire along with a body fully on fire,” Young said.
Police and ambulance were already on site, according to Young, and firefighters left the scene in the hands of police after putting out the flames with a fire extinguisher.
On Wednesday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team revealed the body was that of 49-year-old Ma Cecilia Loreto of New Westminster.
IHIT said 21-year-old Carlo Tobias and a 15-year-old youth had been arrested on Tuesday and each charged with first-degree murder and indignity to human remains in connection with Loreto’s death.
All involved knew each other, according to IHIT.
Loreto was likely killed at her New Westminster residence earlier in the evening of March 17 before being brought to the area of the park where her body was found, said IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Frank Jang.
“Our deepest condolences go out to everyone affected by the death of Ma Cecilia, who was known to her friends and colleagues as Maricel or Mycel,” Jang said. “IHIT also recognizes the important contributions made by its partners from the Burnaby RCMP, the New Westminster Police, and the Richmond RCMP over these past few days. Long hours and long days were put in by everyone to speedily and efficiently gather evidence.”
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or [email protected]
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
Email [email protected]
