Police believe 42-year-old Lee Harland was killed at an encampment behind the Nanaimo Curling Club off Comox Rd. sometime between Sept. 9 and Sept. 12. (submitted photo/NanaimoNewsNOW composition)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

murder probe

Suspicious death of man near downtown Nanaimo now considered homicide

Sep 21, 2024 | 2:08 PM

NANAIMO — Investigators with the RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit believe a man who was found near an encampment off Comox Rd. last week was the victim of foul play.

RCMP believe 42-year-old Lee Harland was killed sometime between Sept. 9 and Sept. 12 at or near his encampment behind the Nanaimo Curling Club. His body was discovered by a passerby on Sept. 12.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW police are releasing information about several key aspects of the situation in a bid to advance their investigation.

“The investigators think this is really important, key information to release to the public that could tweak the memory and develop solid witnesses. The picture of the deceased…the clothing he was wearing several days prior to his death and the location of where he was found.”

Police say Harland, pictured here days prior to his death, was wearing the same clothes as pictured when he was found on Sept. 12. (submitted photo/NanaimoNewsNOW composition)

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He added drivers in the area should check their dash cam footage if they were passing along Comox Rd., by Wall St. during the time in question. RCMP said Harland was of no fixed address and had been living a transient lifestyle in the Nanaimo area.

He’d also frequent different encampments in the region. O’Brien added police have spoken with a lot of people in the community about Harland, trying to deduce what happened.

They’re not releasing a cause of death at this time. “We’ve spoken to a lot of people including people who are unsheltered.

All we can say is that based on the findings to date, including an autopsy that was conducted recently, investigators believe his death was the result of a homicide.”

Anyone with footage of, or information related to, Harland are asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250 754 2345, quoting file number 2024-29983.

Harland’s death is the second homicide investigation to be launched in Nanaimo so far this year.

A 33-year-old woman was found by police inside an apartment unit in the Country Club Centre area.

No arrests or charges have resulted in connected to the death of Tannis Corrigal.

The other most recent homicide in the Harbour City is also an unsolved case involving 52-year-old Wendy Head.

Her March 7, 2023 death in a home on Autumnwood Dr. off Labieux Rd. was originally determined to be an overdose, but was re-classified several months later as a homicide.