Four homicides in Nanaimo in 2022 kept police busy and the public on edge. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

homicide investigations

Top stories of 2022: Four homicides in Nanaimo headlines violent year

Dec 29, 2022 | 4:28 PM

NANAIMO — Investigators with the Nanaimo RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit were put to the test once again this year.

Four homicides in the city in 2022 rocked a growing community where incidents of extreme violence escalated in alarming regularity.

While the sheer volume of severe violence was disturbing enough, the apparent senselessness of these crimes stood out.

Coffee shop murder

On what should have been a pleasant, sunny weekend morning in February, a shocking and completely unexpected attack took place.

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Eric Kutzner, 79, a beloved employee of Buzz Coffee House, was murdered on Saturday, Feb 9 just as the business was opening for morning customers.

James Carey Turok, 30, was arrested without incident at the business and charged with second-degree murder the following day.

At the time, Nanaimo RCMP stated there was no clear link between the two people and that the incident appeared to be a random attack.

A subsequent psychiatric evaluation deemed Turok fit to stand trial.

Turok is expected to enter a plea sometime in the new year in Supreme Court.

Buzz Coffee House re-opened a month and a half after the incident.

South end homicide

The city’s second homicide of the year was another sad, perplexing incident, which had similarities to what transpired at Buzz Coffee House.

Simon James Baker, 22, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Denise Allick, 40, of Victoria at an Eighth St. property on Monday, June 20.

Nanaimo RCMP are not aware of a link between Baker and Allick.

Baker’s mental health will factor into the judicial proceedings as the case against him advances.

He remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court in April in advance of an expected trial.

Suspicious house fire

The city’s third homicide of the year was launched following an early evening house fire reported on August 11 at a notorious property on Athletic St.

The body of a man was found inside by Nanaimo Fire Rescue while dousing the flames, which turned out to be a purposely set fire.

A few days later Nanaimo RCMP revealed the identity of the deceased man as 40-year-old Trevor Lawrence Stross.

Charges have not yet been laid in connection to Stross’ death.

The home was declared a nuisance property by Nanaimo City Council in September.

Maffeo Sutton Park incident

A late-night fatal stabbing on the Labour Day weekend in downtown Nanaimo led to widespread outrage.

Pronounced dead at Nanaimo hospital was 29-year-old Fred Parsons, who was at the park playing on the swings with two friends.

His mother, Cindy Parsons, released a powerful statement following his death.

“The circle of trauma is wide. Fred was the only person who died but there are numerous traumatized people from this senseless act of violence. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and concrete support.”

Parsons stated her son worked hard to overcome disabilities to forge his independence.

Two men face manslaughter charges in relation to Parson’s death: Mark Jayden Harrison and Aiden Matthew William Bell.

An original second-degree murder charge against Harrison was downgraded, while an enhanced manslaughter charge was applied against Bell.

Both men remain in custody.

At the time police stated the attack against Parsons and bear spray directed toward his friends appeared to be random.

“At this point we are satisfied there was no connection between the victim and the suspects. As to why the suspects would do this? That will form the basis of our investigation,” Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Disturbing trend

The vast majority of homicides are historically targeted incidents involving people known to each other. The fact that least three of the four murders in Nanaimo in 2022 were random attacks is significant, unusual and highly disturbing.

In addition to four homicides this past year in Nanaimo, a marked increase in gun violence also transpired, leading to multiple injuries.

In addition to the 2022 homicide investigations, Nanaimo RCMP continue working on four active homicide files related to deaths in the city in 2021.

A police file was closed this year when several charges, including first-degree murder, were applied against Paris Jayanne Laroche in relation to the death of her ex-boyfriend.

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