POLICE – Suspect charged in connection with body found in van

A Kamloops man is facing charges related to indignity to a human body, as part of an ongoing suspicious death investigation.

On March 17, 2022, around 10 p.m., frontline officers were called to the 1600-block of Monterey Place, where they located a dead person inside a vehicle.

The death is being treated as suspicious by the Kamloops RCMP Serious Crime Unit, which has conduct of the investigation.

Rogelio Butch Bagabuyo, 54, of Kamloops is facing one charge under S. 182(b) of the Criminal Code: improperly or indecently interfere with, or offer an indignity to, a dead human body or human remains, by placing them in a plastic bin.

“This investigation is still ongoing and we continue to ask for the public’s assistance in helping us establish the movements of a van in connection to it,” said Cst. Crystal Evelyn, Kamloops RCMP spokesperson.

The vehicle is described as:
-white rental van
-2020 GMC
-BCLP PJ 9131
-company markings and logos

Police are looking for information on the van’s travel last week in Kamloops and surrounding rural areas and communities, including Barriere, Clearwater, Valemount, Savana, Cache Creek, and other spots along those corridors.

Anyone who thinks they saw the van, or has dash cam or surveillance footage capturing it, is asked to contact police as soon as possible.

Police are waiting on the results of an autopsy to confirm the deceased’s identity and cause of death. The BC Coroner’s Service is conducting a concurrent investigation.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to please contact the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2022-8565.