A mobile home fire in Mission that claimed the life of an 86-year-old man has now become a homicide investigation.
Just before 5 a.m. on April 30, Mission RCMP and fire crews responded to a mobile home fire in the 32300-block of Lougheed Highway to find the trailer completed engulfed in flames. After dousing the flames, crews found a the body of 86-year-old William Philip Murphy, a retired iron worker.
After a more detailed investigation, RCMP concluded the fire may have been deliberately set and called in the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). An extensive search of the crime scene by IHIT and fire investigators confirmed the fire was not an accident.
IHIT’s investigation into the homicide is in the early stages.
“We are in the early stages of the investigation and we are working in partnership with the Mission RCMP and Mission Fire to establish what happened. We’re asking members of the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activities that may occur in the area,” said Cpl. Dominic Duchesneau of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
A neighbour told Global News Murphy was elderly, had no enemies and is shocked someone set his mobile home on fire.
“I couldn’t find a better neighbour. He’s just beautiful,” said Herman Spanell.
Police are asking anyone who notices suspicious activities in their neighbourhood to contact the Mission RCMP.
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