2021 was a hectic year for Nanaimo RCMP's Serious Crime Unit with no less than five homicide investigations launched. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MURDER

Top Stories of 2021: Nanaimo RCMP juggle five active homicide investigations

Dec 17, 2021 | 4:31 PM

NANAIMO — It was a deadly year in the city with local police officers swamped.

Nanaimo RCMP will close 2021 with five active homicide investigations after a series of suspicious deaths ranging from missing persons to gang violence.

Randel Thomas
In late March, the body of 58-year-old Thomas was discovered in bushes near a walking trail along Tamara Dr., just off the Nanaimo Parkway.

Nanaimo RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit investigated, reporting Thomas was found with several injuries. Approximately two weeks after the discovery, RCMP upgraded the investigation from a suspicious death to homicide.

It was the first such declaration in Nanaimo since early 2018.

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“We do not know how many people were involved in the altercation,” Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW in April.

Police canvassed the neighbourhood in the days and weeks following the discovery of Thomas. Officers also installed signs along the Nanaimo Parkway asking passing drivers for information or dash cam footage from the afternoon of March 31.

Lower Mainland gang violence in Nanaimo
One person was killed, with at least three taken into custody following a shooting behind the Wendy’s restaurant on the Island Hwy. at Rock City Centre on May 20.

Police said those with connections to gang violence in the Lower Mainland shot at a man sitting in his car around 3:30 p.m. before speeding off.

The killing was clearly a sloppily executed daylight hit with multiple witnesses supplying a detailed suspect vehicle description to police.

Three people were tracked to and later arrested at the Best Western Hotel in north Nanaimo. The trio were later released, pending an exhaustive investigation.

“There’s a lot of information that has to be catalogued, there’s evidence that has to be looked at, witness statements to go through, dash cam video and potentially more video from businesses…has to be put into a succinct report and forwarded to our Crown Counsel for charge approval,” Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW in May. “Prior to doing that, this is why the three individuals were released at this point.”

Sidney Mantee
Just a week after the gang shooting, an extensive police presence was spotted at Diver Lake on May 27, along with a second unit at an apartment in Nanaimo’s downtown.

Police said the situation involved a “historical missing persons case” but were quick to say it was not in connection to Lisa Marie Young. It was later revealed police were investigating the disappearance of Sidney Mantee, reported missing since March 2020.

Members of the RCMP’s mobile forensic response unit were on scene at Diver Lake, conducting both ground and underwater searches.

Some residents on Labieux Rd. had investigators scouring behind their back fences, which opens out to public walkway and marshy area. The area was cordoned off to allow police to work uninterrupted and preserve a potential crime scene.

“Our investigation is moving forward with several searches within the city to collect any forensic evidence,” O’Brien said on May 27. “We have a number of tactical and forensic officers attempting to collect evidence throughout the city and they should be here for the next two or three days.”

A secondary search took place at the same time at an apartment unit on Rosehill St.

The whenabouts of Sidney Mantee remains unknown.

Amy Watts
On the same day police conducted searches related to Sidney Mantee, 27-year-old Amy Watts was reported missing to Nanaimo RCMP.

Her body would be found down a steep, wooded ravine near Albert St. and Victoria Cres. on June 3. Much in the same manner as Thomas, police initially labelled the death as “suspicious” before upgrading it to a homicide investigation on June 16.

““It’s a very aggressive investigation involving forensic evidence, CCTV cameras, witnesses,” O’Brien said on June 16.

Ryan Mosher
A fifth homicide investigation was announced Aug. 19 by Nanaimo RCMP after the discovery of 30-year-old Ryan Mosher.

The new Nanaimo resident, who had recently moved from Kelowna, was the subject of a wellness check at the request of Kelowna RCMP. Mosher’s body was found on Aug. 12, but police did not disclose where.

“We strongly believe Mr. Mosher’s death is an isolated incident and the general public is not considered to be at risk,” Cst. Derek Balderston said in an August release. “Investigators have spoken to numerous people both from Kelowna and Nanaimo to assist in establishing what may have occurred.”

– – –

Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW in early December he wasn’t able to speak to the status of ongoing investigations, however all remain open and active.

“They continue to be a priority with our Serious Crime Unit (SCU) who have the lead on them,” O’Brien said in an email. “SCU are also being assisted by various officers from across the detachment who have either been seconded to their unit on a temporary basis or officers who assist on days off.”

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