A woman’s body was found by Surrey Fire Department in a burned out SUV in South Surrey Wednesday morning.
The case was quickly determined to be a homicide, and the next day the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team identified the victim as Surrey resident Bhavkiran (Kiran) Dhesi, 19, and that they believed the death was not random.
Surrey RCMP were on the scene, in the 18700-block of 24 Avenue, after originally being called out after a report of a vehicle on fire at 12:20 a.m. The road, between 184 and 188 Streets, was closed and remained closed as of Peace Arch News’ press time Thursday.
“Police are currently in the evidence gathering phase,” said a news release sent Wednesday.
At an IHIT press briefing Wednesday afternoon, Cpl. Meghan Foster said investigators had yet to determine the identity or gender of the victim, which became the primary focus of the investigation.
“When they attended the scene and extinguished the flames, a body was observed inside the vehicle and the circumstances surrounding that discovery made it clear that the individual had suffered injuries consistent with homicide,” Foster said, noting at that point that it was unknown whether the killing was targeted or random.
Police are asking anyone with information, or who were in the 18700-block of 24 Avenue Tuesday night, to contact them.
“We’re going to be looking for people that were driving by the area and maybe noticed vehicles… sitting off the roadside.”
Foster could not provide the colour or make of the vehicle, although she speculated why it may have been torched.
“In my experience of homicide investigations, or as a police officer in general, sometimes the torching of vehicles is an attempt of destroying evidence,” she said, adding that police have techniques of obtaining evidence from torched vehicles.
Anyone with information can call 1-877-551-4448 or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca, or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
