Woman found killed near small B.C. town ID'd as Belgian hitchhiker

Police have revealed that a womanfound dead near a small town inB.C.last monthwas a Belgian tourist hitchhiking fromPenticton to Vancouver.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation team identified Amelie Christelle Sakkalis, 28, as the woman whose body was discovered near Boston Bar, northeast of Vancouver.

On Wednesday, the team appealed to the public for help with the investigation.

"IHITwould like to speak with anyone who provided MissSakkalisa ride betweenPentictonand Boston Bar on Aug.22, 2018," IHIT spokesperson Frank Jangtold reporters at a news conference at the B.C.RCMP'sSurrey headquarters.

"Amelie'sfamily has been notified of her murder ... andwe urge anyone with information to come forward immediately to help provide answers."

Sakkalis's body was discovered north of Boston Baron Aug. 22 after police were called toa "suspicious occurrence"near where Highway 1 meetsKahmooseRoad.

A man was arrested at the scene and police took possession of a white 1994 Chevy Astrovan they believe was associated with the homicide.

The man, a British Columbian, was interviewed by police and has since been released. Jang said Wednesday the man has not been criminally charged but is a person of interest and may have information relevant to the investigation.

Info on white van sought

Jangsaid police are establishing a motive inSakkalis's killing which theydon't believe was random.

They especially want to hearfrom residents who live in thePentictonto Boston Bar area or anyone who might have security or dash cam footage of her or the white van.

"We may be looking at other vehicles," he said, explaining that the journeyfrom Pentictonis not a short one and she may have made several stops along the way.

"She may have been hitchhiking with several vehicles along that route."

'Critical' hours

The IHITsaid its officers, along withRCMPand the B.C. Coroners Service, are investigating the homicide. Jangtold reporters an autopsy has been completed on Sakkalis's body.

A focus of the investigation will be establishing a timeline of the "critical" hours on Aug. 22 from the afternoon to early evening, Jang said.

The day before her body was found, Sakalis posted on Facebook in French, looking for a ride. She was asking if anyone was going to Vancouver from Penticton or even to Tofino.

On the day of her death, she posted on aFacebook groupcalled Guide du Croutard, for French-speakers in Vancouver, asking if anyone had a place to stay because the hostels in Vancouver were full.

Jang added that Sakkalis was not known to police in B.C. and had "little history" in Canada. French was her primary language.

The woman was travelling alone at the time of her deathbut police have spoken to her friends.

Some members of Sakkalis's family, Jangsaid, are planning to travel to Canada.

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