Six people charged in Anahim Lake double homicide

Six people have been charged after two young men were found dead in Anahim Lake in the early morning on Dec. 27.

The two victims of the double homicide have been identified as 23-year-old Matthew Hennigar and 22-year-old Kalvin Andy, according to the RCMP.

The two men were in a house on Dorsey Road when they were killed. They were already dead when RCMP arrived at midnight. Additional police were called in from Bella Coola and Alexis Creek, and several residents told Global News there was a lockdown in the early hours of the morning.

Six suspects were arrested without incident around 9:30 a.m. and it is believed all the suspects knew the two victims.

“In a town like this, we all know each other,” said Deana Wood, owner of Anahim Lake Trading. “Everyone was a little bit concerned because there was a lockdown and roadblocks. We’re relieved someone is arrested, but it’s so awful this happened.”

Charged with first degree murder is 27-year-old Everett O’Reilly.

Christian Craciun, 28, Andrew Jongbloets, 25, and 26-year-old Serena Rhem have all been charged with second degree murder. And both Lucille Mack, 33 and Stephen Mecham, 22 have been charged with manslaughter.

Mecham and Mack will be appearing in Williams Lake Provincial Court on Dec. 29 and the four others will be in court on Dec. 30.

The Major Crime Unit investigators is currently determining a timeline for O’Reilly, Jongbloets, Rhem and Cracium from the time of the homicide, Dec. 24 at 11:53 p.m., until the time of their arrest on Dec. 27. Police are asking anyone with information regarding their whereabouts to contact the Anahim Lake RCMP detachment.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started for Hennigar’s wife and one-year-old son.

~ with files from Justin McElroy