Vancouver police have identified the couple killed in a Marpole home on Wednesday.
Police said 65-year-old Dianna Mah-Jones and 68-year-old Richard Jones, a married Vancouver couple, were killed at the home near West 64th Avenue and Hudson Street.
Police have yet to establish a motive in the slayings, and have said they cannot yet confirm whether the attack was targeted or random.
However, police have asked the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour in the area “out of an abundance of caution.”
WATCH: Vancouver police urge public to be ‘vigilant’ in response to Marpole double murder
“There is nothing so far to suggest this was anything but a random crime. That’s why we are asking the public to look out for one another, and report anything suspicious to 911,” said VPD Cst. Jason Doucette in a statement.
Mah-Jones was a well respected occupational therapist with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), working at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre and Vancouver General Hospital.
In 2015, she was named the Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists BC, and was honoured as this year’s VCH and Provincial Healthcare Hero.
Vancouver Coastal Health released a statement on Friday saying it was “shocked and saddened” by Mah-Jones and her husband’s tragic death.
“Dianna will be remembered as someone who went above and beyond to make a difference for her patients and missed by all who knew her.”
Unanswered questions
On Thursday afternoon, police had appealed to the public to try and locate a vehicle believed to be missing from the property.
A source confirms that vehicle, a white Kia Soul, was located late Thursday evening parked in South Vancouver, and was towed to a VPD facility for processing.
Police say it was found parked and unoccupied at 9:30 p.m., and detectives are working to determine what role, if any, it may have in connection to the homicide investigation.
The Kia was found just blocks from the crime scene.
WATCH: A vehicle that is linked to a double murder in Vancouver was found parked and unoccupied at 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, police confirmed the pair’s deaths were homicides.
Police said the duo was found dead after officers were called to the home on West 64th Avenue near Hudson Street around 1:30 p.m. Officers were called to check on the well-being of the residents.
But other details of the case remain unclear, including the manner in which the couple died.
Forensics specialists, including a blood spatter expert, have been combing the property collecting evidence.
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The couple also ran an an Airbnb suite from the home where they were murdered. Police said on Friday that they were aware of the short-term rental account, and that it will form a part of the investigation, but that they are unsure if the unit was rented at the time of the killing.
Airbnb confirmed the couple’s account, but said the unit was not occupied on the date of the murder.
On Thursday, VPD Cst. Jason Doucette asked anyone near the area of West 64th avenue near Hudson Street on Wednesday to come forward with any information.
“People that live in communities know what’s normal for the communities, typically they know the neighbours, they know the people that belong and don’t.”
However, despite the number of unanswered questions surrounding the city’s 14th and 15th murder of the year, Doucette said police do not believe the public to be at risk.
One neighbour, Tina Kramer, said she lives nearby and added the incident is unusual for the area.
“These are all families… It’s very safe as far as I know.”
Another resident said he didn’t hear any gunfire Wednesday afternoon.
Anyone who may have information about these deaths is asked to call 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
~With files from Kyle Benning and Gord MacDonald
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