Few Updates for Unsolved Crimes

Investigations continue into Village homicide and arson cases

Homicide victim Stewart McLean. Photo: Squamish RCMP.

After being registered by friends and colleagues as a missing person, Brunswick Beach resident Stewart McLean was found brutally murdered this past May in the woods near his home.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) spokesperson Corporal Esther Tupper released a statement at the time stating that evidence uncovered during the search for McLean led investigators to believe he had been the victim of a homicide, and called the death an isolated incident.

Homicide investigators worked to collect and analyze evidence, review CCTV footage and conduct interviews to build a timeline of McLean’s activities prior to May 15, 2026.

This week, IHIT's Sergeant Freda Fong confirmed the investigation is still active and ongoing, though there are no significant developments they are prepared to share with the public. She also said that the investigative team is not currently seeking public assistance or specific witness information.

"I am hoping that we can provide an update to the public in the upcoming weeks," Fong said. "It is challenging to say when exactly because the timeline is dependent on lab results, investigative findings, and expert reports."

Firefighters battle Kelvin Grove house fire July 14. Photo by Wally Senyk.

Meanwhile, in the early morning hours of July 14, neighbours reported a house on fire in Kelvin Grove. Shortly after fire personnel attended the scene, a car fire was reported at Ocean Point Drive, about two kilometres south of Lions Bay on the Sea to Sky highway. Both the house and vehicle were gutted by the fires.

On July 22, the Squamish RCMP released a statement calling the fires related and suspicious, and asked for the public's assistance, including video or dash-cam footage related to either incident.

This week, Lions Bay Fire Chief Lorenzo De Arcangelis told The Watershed that the fire investigation into the July 19 incident in Kelvin Grove remains ongoing.

"At this time, the property remains secured while the investigative process continues," he said. He added that there is no timeline for when any further details can be made public.

Squamish RCMP is directing enquiries about the fires to IHIT, which has to date made no comment.

Anyone wishing to provide information anonymously regarding either of these unsolved crimes can do so by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑222‑TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.

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