A child's body was discovered in the the trunk of a vehicle in South Surrey shortly after noon Wednesday, homicide investigators have confirmed.
Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokesperson Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound told a news conference just before 5 p.m. at the scene – in the 13900-block of 35A Avenue – that the car was initially investigated as part of a minor motor-vehicle incident.
A woman was arrested at the site, and police believe she was the mother of the deceased.
Pound would not provide the age or gender of the victim, saying family members were still in the process of being notified. She did say that the victim was believed to be from Surrey.
Cause of death has not been made public.
"When a child is a victim, that makes it more difficult to understand," Pound told media at the scene.
Police with Surrey RCMP's Serious Crime Unit were alerted to a "suspicious circumstance" at approximately 12:15 p.m., and moved quickly to cordon off the area and re-route traffic.
Earlier today, yellow police tape surrounded a grey newer-model vehicle that was in front of a home on the west side of the dead-end road. The car's rear wheels were in the ditch, its hatch was open and a white tarp was draped to cover the rear passenger compartment.
One witness reported seeing police take someone from the scene in the back of a police car. The individual ducked out of sight as the car drove off, the witness said.
Police dogs were also seen exploring the area.
Members of IHIT expect to be on site overnight.
More to come…