RCMP are treating the death of a young woman whose body was discovered in a small wooded ravine in downtown Nanaimo as a homicide.
The body of 27-year-old Amy Watts was discovered by police on June 3 near the intersection of Albert Street and Victoria Crescent. Her family reported her missing on May 27.
The Nanaimo RCMP serious crime unit has overall responsibility for the investigation. Officers spoke with her family last week and gave them an update on the investigation, Const. Gary O’Brien said Wednesday.
“Police are fully engaged and actively pursuing all investigative steps,” he said.
The B.C. Coroners Service is also investigating. A forensic autopsy was completed last week. To date, no arrests have been made.
O’Brien would not say if police have a suspect.
“What I can say is it’s a very aggressive investigation,” he said. “We have a lot of investigators involved. There are video cameras to be reviewed, witness statements, forensic evidence. It’s all coming together quite nicely.”
A candlelight vigil was scheduled for Wednesday evening outside Nanaimo City Hall.
In a Facebook post, vigil organizer Dee Vickberg invited everyone in Nanaimo to join family and friends “to honour, grieve and bring love to their beloved Amy.”
She said Watts’ mother, Janice Coady, travelled from PEI to attend the vigil and would be speaking on behalf of her daughter.
