Foul play suspected in Metchosin death

Foul play is suspected in the death of a man found on a remote Metchosin property Wednesday.

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit responded to 1005 Malloch Rd. after West Shore RCMP officers were “led to a scene” where the man’s body was found about noon. Police did not elaborate on who led them to the body.

West Shore RCMP were calling it a “suspicious death investigation” and said “foul play is suspected.”

Police tape was strung between two wooden posts that mark the driveway of the densely wooded property. The area is covered with junk, including an old barbecue, a pink and white doll house and a trailer hitch. There’s a pile of metal poles, clear plastic and a roll of mesh fencing. Near the back of the five-acre property, a two-storey scaffold is set up but no home or structure is being built.

Neighbours on Malloch Road said someone was living on the property in a trailer about a year ago but that has been removed. One neighbour said she has seen people coming and going from two tents on the property. She has also seen a man in a black truck arriving about once a week with scaffold equipment.

“It’s a strange place,” one woman said of the property. Some neighbours said they have expressed their frustration with the unkempt property to the District of Metchosin.

The site is at the corner of Malloch and Rocky Point Road, just down the road from the Wild ARC wildlife rehabilitation facility.

“This investigation is in its early stages. No further information can be shared at this time,” said West Shore RCMP spokesman Const. Alex Bérubé.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or victoriacrimestoppers.ca.