Advertisement

Police criminally cleared in Lumby woman’s threat complaint

Click to play video: 'Police watchdog clears police in threat against Lumby woman'
Police watchdog clears police in threat against Lumby woman
B.C's police watchdog says no criminal offence was committed by the officers investigating the April disappearance and death of a Lumby woman, a conclusion her loved ones aren't happy about. Victoria Femia reports. – Aug 23, 2024

B.C.’s police watchdog determined that RCMP officers who took a threat complaint from a Lumby woman who died in suspicious circumstances mere months later are not criminally responsible for what happened.

“The Interim Chief Civilian Director has reviewed the evidence and determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence was committed by any officer,” the Independent Investigations Office said in a statement.

“The IIO investigation is now concluded, and a public report will be published following the conclusion of concurrent criminal court proceedings.”

The man closest to Tatjana Stefanski in her final months feels that there’s more to the story and it should have been said now, not later.

“I understand that they can’t hold them personally responsible for what they did not do for us and how they steered us in a different direction,” Stefanski’s partner Jason Gaudreault said upon hearing the report.

Story continues below advertisement

“But they had a role in it, absolutely. There will be more investigation into this. She should be here with me.”

Click to play video: 'Arrest and charge in killing of Tatjana Stefanski'
Arrest and charge in killing of Tatjana Stefanski

Gaudreault said that he expects the RCMP to launch a code of conduct investigation into the RCMP officers who took Stefanki’s report. And from that, he hopes a modicum of justice can be found.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Gaudreault said that it was  Dec. 18, 2023, when Stefanski told officers at the Vernon and Lumby detachments a man she knew had contacted her family back in Germany a day earlier and said he was going to harm her.

Her body was found April 14.  The IIO was notified of the prior reports and death on April 25, 2024, and commenced an investigation to determine what role, if any, police action or inaction may have played in the death.

Story continues below advertisement

In May, the Independent Investigations Office announced their investigation to the public.

While this part of the investigation is over, there are still criminal proceedings at play. Stefanski’s ex-husband Vitali Stefanski has been charged with second-degree murder.

Click to play video: 'B.C.’s police watchdog investigates handling of a threat report made by Lumby woman'
B.C.’s police watchdog investigates handling of a threat report made by Lumby woman

Gaudreault is following the case closely and doing what he can to make sure the woman he loved is remembered and honoured and issues with offenders change.

One of his efforts was a strategically placed bench to mark the last spot she was known to be alive.

“Something good has to come from this,” Gaudreault said last week.

“So I need help from everybody. We’re planning on opening up a foundation, which is going to be basically (a) non-profit foundation. …. So this is all to go towards, like, legal costs and whatever else, to fight these laws and just we got to get things changed.”

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices