Police watchdog probes RCMP's handling of reported threat to woman - Action News
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British Columbia

Police watchdog probes RCMP's handling of reported threat to woman

In December 2023, officers at at the Lumby and Vernon detachments received a report raising concern about a womans safety, the IIO said. Five months later, she was found dead.

The IIO didn't identify the woman, but the details resemble the case of Tatjana Stefanski

An RCMP patch is seen on the shoulder of an assistant commissioner, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, April 28, 2023.
The IIO is investigating the RCMP's role in the death of a woman in the province's Interior. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating the RCMP's role in the death of a woman in the province's Interior.

In December 2023, officers at the Lumby and Vernon detachments received a report raising concern about a woman's safety, theIndependent Investigations Office (IIO) said. Five months later, she was found dead.

Now, the IIO is probing the RCMP's handling of the case.

"The IIO investigation will now seek to determine what if any role police action or inaction may have played in the woman's death," the agency said.

The watchdog's Friday news release didn't identify the woman, though its details, including the small community and dates matchthe case of 44-year-old Tatjana Stefanski.

Composite photo of Tatjana Stefanski, a white woman.
Lumby RCMP asked the public Saturday for help locating 44-year-old Tatjana Stefanski on April 13. She was found dead the next day. (Facebook)

The RCMP launched an investigation into Stefanski's disappearance on April 13. She was reportedly last seen in Lumby that morning while speaking with her ex-husband, before "departing unexpectedly with him," police said last month.

Stefanski's body was found a day later.

CBC News asked IIO if the affected person in the investigation is Stefanski, but the agency has declined to confirm.

CBC News emailed the RCMP for comment late on Friday about the IIO's investigation and whether it involves Stefanski. RCMPhavedeclined to comment.

Lumby is home to about 2,000 people and is located approximately 55 kilometres northeast of Kelowna.