Boston Bar/Surrey/Chilliwack – SEPTEMBER 17 UPDATE – Over the weekend, court records indicated Sean McKenzie will appear in Chilliwack Provincial Court on Wednesday September 19 in connection with the homicide of 28-year-old Amelie Sakkalis.
Her body was discovered August 22 north of Boston Bar.
The Belgian Tourist had been hitchhiking from Penticton to Vancouver earlier that same day.
At a Monday Morning press conference: “On September 14, 2018, IHIT and its partner agencies arrested 27-year-old Sean McKenzie of Oliver, B.C,” said Cpl. Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
McKenzie was arrested in Oliver.
IHIT has recommended to Crown, a charge of First Degree Murder.
A court publication ban of future information is now in place.
IHIT is asking the public for information.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
SEPTEMBER 15 UPDATE – On Saturday night, IHIT released a rather cryptic Tweet on the murder case of Belgian tourist Amelie Sakkalis. She was the hitchhiker heading from Penticton to Vancouver. Her body was found near Boston Bar. IHIT is expected to release more information on Monday.
SEPTEMBER 5 UPDATE – IHIT – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team needs your help in the investigation into the homicide of a 28-year-old woman from Belgium.
Background: On August 22, 2018 at approximately 7:45 p.m., the RCMP received a report of a suspicious occurrence north of Boston Bar near Highway 1. Police arrived to find the body of 28-year-old Amelie Christelle Sakkalis and determined that she was the victim of homicide. IHIT was called in to take conduct of the investigation.
A man was arrested at the scene in connection to the homicide and later released from police custody.
IHIT continues to actively investigate the murder of Miss Sakkalis in partnership with the Hope RCMP, the Chilliwack RCMP Serious Crime Unit, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and the B.C. Coroners Service.
Miss Sakkalis was a Belgian national travelling in Canada at the time of her death. Investigators believe she was hitchhiking from the Penticton area on August 22, 2018 and heading to Vancouver.
“IHIT would like to speak with anyone that provided Miss Sakkalis a ride between Penticton and Boston Bar on August 22, 2018,” says Corporal Frank Jang of IHIT. “Amelie’s family has been notified of her murder and we urge anyone with information to come forward immediately to help provide answers.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
