An elected council member from the Kwikwetlem First Nation who was reported missing last week has been found dead, homicide investigators confirmed Wednesday.
A member of the public discovered Stephanie Patterson’s body in a rural area of Mission on Tuesday, according to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
Authorities said a man has been arrested in connection with Patterson’s murder, but that the suspect won’t be named unless charges are approved against him.
Patterson, who was 44 years old, was last seen leaving her Coquitlam home near Colony Farm Road and Lougheed Highway on Friday afternoon with 57-year-old David Hall.
CTV News has learned Patterson and Hall were married but had been separated for many years. They had three children together, two of whom are now adults.
On Tuesday, authorities announced officers had located Hall – along with a white 2019 Honda Ridgeline the two were believed to have been travelling in – and that they were intensifying their search efforts for Patterson.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Original:
Coquitlam RCMP continue to search for missing person, 44-year-old Stephanie Patterson. Police have since located the 57-year-old man and vehicle that were also reported missing on Friday, August 11.
On Monday, August 14, 2023 Coquitlam RCMP arrested a man in connection to this investigation. Details of the arrest will not be released to the public unless charges are laid.
“We are providing updated surveillance photos from the day that she was reported missing in the hopes that it may help locate Stephanie as soon as possible,” said Corporal Alexa Hodgins of the Coquitlam RCMP. “The entire community is concerned for the well-being of Stephanie. It is extremely unusual for Stephanie to leave unannounced and not contact her friends and family.”
Stephanie was last seen at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 11, 2023 leaving her residence located near Colony Farm Road and Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam. Stephanie is a current member of the band council of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation.
Stephanie can be described as:
Indigenous female
5’2 tall
Slim build
Medium length brown hair
Hazel eyes
Stephanie is believed to be wearing:
Purple shirt with blue flowers
Blue jeans
Brown backpack
“Police continue to consider a variety of investigational avenues, including the possibility of foul play,” said Corporal Alexa Hodgins. “We are asking anyone who may have seen or spoken to Stephanie Patterson since Friday, August 11, 2023 to contact our investigators.”
Police are asking anyone who may have seen Stephanie Patterson or have information on her whereabouts to call the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2023-21526. If they wish to remain anonymous, they can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
