RCMP ID body found in orchard
Police called to an orchard last week after reports of a body being found
A murder victim found dead in a Kelowna orchard last Wednesday has been identified, and police are appealing to the public for help tracking movement of her vehicle in the hours leading up to her death.
Police were called to an orchard in the 2100 block of Cooper Road for a report of a body found shortly before 11 a.m.
The death is being treated as a homicide.
Investigators with the Kelowna RCMP serious crimes unit attended the woman’s autopsy on Monday and identified her as 23-year-old Russia Nicholson of West Kelowna.
“RCMP are asking the public to come forward to police as investigators work to establish a timeline of the hours and moments that led up to Russia’s death,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.
Police are seeking to track the movements of Nicholson’s four-door white 2010 Ford Fusion on Oct 11 between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m.
“Business and area residents in the vicinity of both the 2100 block of Cooper Road where the victim’s body was discovered and the 1300 block of Collison Road, where the victim’s vehicle was recovered, are encouraged to review their video surveillance footage for any images that show Russia’s white 2010 Ford Fusion,” said O’Donaghey.
Photos of the vehicle show damage to the front bumper and driver’s side rear passenger window.
Police do not believe this was a random attack and that the victim likely knew her attacker.