Coquitlam woman identified as victim found in Cheakamus
John French
[email protected]
The RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is digging into the details of a death, which the RCMP described as suspicious.
The police confirmed that the body of Simin Falahati, 32, of Coquitlam was recovered from the Cheakamus River on July 27.
Her body was recovered from a canyon area 27 kilometres north of Squamish in the area commonly known as the Salt Sheds.
Cpl. Dave Ritchie of the Squamish RCMP said police were alerted to the situation at 7 p.m. when a call came in to report a body was found floating in the river.
He said the IHIT was called to participate in the investigation because of the suspicious nature of the death. Ritchie did not indicate why the death was considered suspicious.
A news release issued July 28 by Ritchie noted the RCMP wanted to speak with anyone who was in the Cheakamus River canyon area during the early afternoon and evening hours of July 27.
The plea for potential witnesses to come forward was published in The Chief and Lower Mainland news outlets picked up the story as well.
"No new information has come forward since," Ritchie said.
He said an autopsy was performed on Falahati's body this week, but no details of the autopsy were released.
When asked if Falahati was with anyone, Ritchie answered: "I can't say who she was with."
He also declined to say if she was married or if she had children.
Coroner Jan MacFayden of Pemberton is also involved in the investigation, but she said the RCMP is leading the investigation due to the suspicious nature of the death.
Volunteers with the Squamish Emergency Program Search and Rescue (SAR) team recovered Falahati's body using the assistance of a helicopter.
She fell in a new climbing area, said John Howe of SAR.
