Brunswick Beach Mystery

Missing person case becomes a homicide investigation

RCMP vehicles block the north end of Brunswick Beach Road on Thursday evening. Photo by kc dyer.

Several homes in Brunswick Beach are behind police tape this evening as what began as a missing person investigation has been handed over to the RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

IHIT is called in to investigate homicides and suspicious deaths and also when missing persons are deemed to be at high-risk or where foul play is suspected.

Lions Bay resident Stewart McLean was reported to be missing on May 18. In their press release that day, Squamish RCMP said that McLean was last seen on May 15, and was known to have recently returned to Lions Bay from working on a project in Merritt, BC.

McLean is described as 45 years old, 5 foot 10 inches tall and approximately 150 pounds. He has recently-shaved grey hair and blue eyes, and is a member of the Vancouver Film and Television community.

The search for McLean was centred around his home in Brunswick Beach, with members of Lions Bay Search and Rescue assisting the RCMP in their efforts.

RCMP-issued photo of Stewart McLean, missing since May 15.

LBSAR Manager Ed Langford said the team ran a full call-out, with numerous members involved, some of whom used drones to provide a birds eye view of the search area. Langford said that mutual assistance was also provided by Royal Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) at the request of LBSAR, in order to conduct a shoreline visual search of several key areas.

Seven "zones of interest" were searched, including Crystal Falls, Brunswick Beach, and Tunnel Point. LBSAR member Maria Masiar said that the team was asked to stand down last night when the investigation was handed over to IHIT.

In a news release this afternoon, Squamish RCMP spokesperson Sergeant Vanessa Munn stated that after initiating an investigation, they "uncovered evidence that led investigators to believe Mr. McLean was the victim of a homicide."

Although IHIT has been deployed and assumed conduct of the investigation, Munn says Squamish RCMP continue to work closely with both IHIT and the Integrated Forensic Identification Service (IFIS) to advance the investigation. 

Sources tell The Watershed that RCMP are interested in any local residents who might have security camera footage from the past several days.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

While members of LBSAR are unable to provide further comment, Langford thanked their mutual aid partners and local residents who cooperated with team members, and offered condolences to the family and friends of the missing man.

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