Carla Marie Smith

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B.C. murder victim identified as sex worker
ctvbc.ca
Published Tuesday, February 8, 2011 6:35PM PST

The woman discovered dead in a B.C. park on Monday was a 27-year-old sex worker, and police believe she was murdered.

Carla Marie Smith was found dead near the intersection of Winston Street and Piper Avenue in Warner Loat Park in Burnaby. She was known to Vancouver police for her involvement in sex



Police have not yet determined how Smith died, or if she was killed in the same area where her body was discovered. An autopsy will be performed on Tuesday.

The discovery of the body marks the second time in a week that a woman has been found dead in a Metro Vancouver park.

The body of another woman was found on Wednesday in a wooded area of North Vancouver's Kirkstone Park. Police believe that the unidentified woman was also murdered, but say there is no reason to connect the two cases.

RELATED LINKS

• Body discovered in Burnaby, B.C. park

"Each of the investigations are separate and distinct investigations; the only similarities are that they are women found in a park," Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a release.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about Smith's death to call police.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Lisa Rossington







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  Police investigate the discovery of a woman's body in a Burnaby park. Feb. 7, 2011. (CTV)
  
  
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Slain Woman Found Near Burnaby Lake – UPDATE
Kim Bolan
Updated: February 7, 2011

Female body discovered in a North Burnaby park, IHIT investigating as homicide - IDENTIFIED
Female body discovered in a North Burnaby park, IHIT investigating as homicide - IDENTIFIED
Burnaby, Integrated Homicide Investigation Team
File # 2011-497
2011-02-08 13:36 PST

BURNABY, BC (February 8, 2011) – The body of an adult female that was discovered yesterday around noon in a North Burnaby Park just off Winston Street has been positively identified.

IHIT investigators have identified the deceased woman located in WARNER LOAT Park in North Burnaby as 27-year-old Carla Marie SMITH of Vancouver. Carla was also known to use the names Carmen and Justine.

SMITH is known to Vancouver Police for her involvement in the sex trade industry, working in Vancouver.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of death or if SMITH died at the scene where she was discovered or at another location and later placed there. We are hoping that today’s autopsy will assist us with that determination, said Cpl. Dale Carr of IHIT.

Police are aware that there have been a number of women found deceased in parks over the last couple of years. Investigators have continued to consult on all files and have found that there are no links between each of the events. Each of the investigations are separate and distinct. The only similarities are that they are women found in a park, said Carr.

IHIT investigators are releasing a photo of the victim in the hope that someone will recognize SMITH and be able to offer information to investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT Tip Line at 1-877-551-IHIT. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-222-TIPS. Your anonymity is guaranteed.

PREVIOUSLY RELEASED INFORMATION

BURNABY, BC (February 7, 2011) – The body of an adult female was discovered today around noon in a North Burnaby Park just off Winston Street.

On February 7, 2011 at approximately noon, a local man was in the park for a lunch-time walk when he discovered what appeared to be a deceased body. The man notified the Burnaby RCMP. Once police were on scene, they believed that the adult female appeared to have met with foul play. The area was immediately secured and the Integrated homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was called in to investigate.

Currently, the Lower Mainland District Forensic Identification Section is on scene conducting a comprehensive crime scene investigation looking for any evidence that could assist in advancing the investigation.

A Police Service Dog has been deployed in the area to conduct a search.

Investigators’ number one priority is to identify the female, and then notify the victim’s family.

Investigators from IHIT and Burnaby Serious Crime Section will be in the area tonight and throughout tomorrow canvassing area residents for information. Additionally, the Lower Mainland District Tactical Troop will be in the park conducting a comprehensive line search inside the wooded area looking for additional evidence.

The park will remain closed as police will be holding the scene throughout the night in order to maintain continuity for the search by the Tactical Troop.

Once the crime scene investigation has been completed, the coroner will be advised. Once the coroner has completed their investigation, the body will be moved and prepared for autopsy. Although an autopsy has not been scheduled, it is anticipated that the autopsy will occur in the next few days.

Adjacent to the area of the discovery of the body there is an off leash dog park. Investigators are asking that anyone who uses the dog park on a regular basis who may have seen anything out of the ordinary over the past week, to please give them a call.

Oftentimes people see things and don’t realize that it is important to a homicide investigation until police ask, said Cpl. Dale CARR of IHIT.

At this point there is nothing that suggests that this has any links to gangs, drugs or organized crime or links to any other homicide investigation. This may change as investigators learn more information.

Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT Tip Lined at 1-877-551-IHIT. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-222-TIPS. Your anonymity is guaranteed.

Corporal Dale Carr
Integrated Homicide Investigation Team
Media Spokesperson
Office: 604-598-4609
Cell: 604-760-8020
Email: [email protected]


Email: [email protected]