A 37-year-old Vancouver Island man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Jennifer McPherson, who disappeared more than a week ago.
Traigo Ehkid Andretti will appear in court on Monday in Campbell River, RCMP said.
McPherson, 41, and Andretti lived on Hanson Island, about 10 kilometres by boat from Telegraph Cove, south of Port McNeill on Vancouver Island. They were year-round caretakers of the Pacific Outback Fishing Resort, which opens in July and August.
“She was a really dedicated employee, always there for anything,” said colleague Janice Gehrtz, who works at the fishing resort’s head office in Langley. She said McPherson worked for the company for five years.
McPherson was reported missing on May 1 by a friend. Her family last heard from her on April 29, RCMP said.
An extensive search was launched and the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit investigated. Police concluded after recovering human remains that McPherson had been slain, Island RCMP Cpl. Darren Lagan said. He said the remote island has only four to six residents in the off-season months.
Investigators continue to search Hanson Island. The B.C. Coroners Service is also investigating.
“Our investigators remain focused on conducting a thorough search of Hanson Island for any evidence related to this murder, and the ultimate goal of seeing justice served for Jennifer’s grieving family,” Sgt. Kevin Mazur of the major crime unit said in a release.
McPherson has two adult daughters who live out of the province.
