Two ‘suspicious’ deaths in Marpole
Neighbours say they heard reports of a hatchet left on front lawn of home
Two people were found dead in a Vancouver house Wednesday, and police are treating their deaths as “suspicious.”
Neighbours in the Marpole area said they heard reports the victims were killed with a hatchet, which was left on the front lawn and trailed blood into the house — but police did not confirm any details.
“Detectives from (the Vancouver Police Department’s) Homicide Unit have been called to the scene to take over the investigation,” a brief police news release stated.
“It is still very early in the investigation, so there is no additional information to share at this time.”
By 4 p.m., several police in white protective suits were combing through the bushes and yard outside a modest blue home in the 1200 block West 64th, near Selkirk.
“I’m just stunned,” said neighbour Amy Kelly, who was out walking her dog.
“I’ve had three of my co-workers text me. I walk by dog around here, go out at midnight, one o’clock in the morning. It’s a safe neighbourhood.”
A couple of neighbours feared one of the victims was an “older gentleman” who lived in the house.
“I see him often when I’m going to Safeway,” said Donna, who has lived on the street for five decades.
“He’s probably around 65 or something. He hasn’t been really well, he walks with a walker because he had a chronic problem of some kind.”
She said about a week and a half ago she noticed a group of young men emerging from the basement of the house in the morning.
“I thought, ‘Oh, he must have a B&B or something,’ because that’s really weird, seeing all those young fellows coming out of there,” she said.
“I don’t know what to say, I’m floored. It’s terribly sad. I can’t believe this actually happened — it doesn’t seem possible.”