Homicide investigators say a man is facing criminal charges after human remains were found at a home in Maple Ridge, B.C., a property that police believe is linked to the disappearance of a 43-year-old woman.
Mylie Barron was arrested on Aug. 26, and has been charged with indignity to human remains.
The development comes after RCMP, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) and forensics investigators were deployed to a home on Gillis Place, a cul-de-sac in Maple Ridge, on Tuesday.
Police were investigating the disappearance of Jessica Cunningham, who was last seen in June and reported missing last month.
IHIT said Thursday that investigators discovered human remains at the Gillis Place home, but that the BC Coroners Service has yet to confirm the person’s identity.
IHIT spokesperson S/Sgt. David Lee could not say how long the remains had been inside the home.
“That’s one of the things we are trying to figure out right now … that is one of the priorities,” he told reporters at a Thursday afternoon update.
Lee confirmed Cunningham and Barron were in an intimate relationship, and had lived together in the home where the remains were found. However, he said it was too early to say if the incident was a case of intimate partner violence.
He could not say if police investigating Cunningham’s disappearance had searched the home before Tuesday.
Barron appeared in court in Port Coquitlam on Wednesday,Aug. 27 and was remanded in custody for a bail hearing Sept. 26. It is the one charge only: CCC 182 b, and that he remains in custody.
A portion of the home was blocked off on Wednesday was blocked off by a tent and tarps, and forensics investigators were at the scene.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation can call the IHIT information line 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.