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Kelowna business releases statement in connection to Van Diest murder suspect

The current owner of the Kelowna business where a 2005 sexual assault occurred is speaking out about its connection to the murder of an Armstrong teen.

On Wednesday afternoon, RCMP revealed the man who murdered Taylor Van Diest, 18, who was fatally attacked Halloween night, is the same suspect in the case of a 2005 sexual assault that occurred at the Garden of Eden, an escort agency in downtown Kelowna.

The case is still unsolved.

The Garden of Eden owner, who does not want to be identified out of fear for her safety, released this statement to CHBC News:

“The Garden of Eden has a different owner and completely different staff than in 2005. We know nothing of the incident back then. We request you respect our privacy and just hope that they catch the suspect soon and pray for his victim and their families.”

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The owner, who bought the business in 2007, had heard about the incident and says the Garden of Eden has since upgraded its security of the girls working there.

The owner also stated RCMP have recently visited the business and obtained a layout of the premises for the purposes of the Armstrong murder investigation.
 

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