Man found dead near Pitt Meadows dykes identified as Ian Roberts

Homicide investigators have identified the body found in a rural area of Pitt Meadows earlier this week.

Police believe 43-year-old Ian Roberts of Delta was the victim of a targeted homicide.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) Corporal Frank Jang says Roberts had a criminal record.

“I can certainly understand that people are nervous, or even frightened because of some of the murders that have been happening lately,” Jang said.

“With respect to Mr. Roberts’ murder… there isn’t that connection. We haven’t found the linkage as of yet to connect Mr. Roberts’ murder to any of the ongoing gang violence.”

According to police, Roberts was found by a passerby around 2:30 p.m. on Monday in the 14500-block of Hale Road, near the dykes along the Alouette River.

IHIT said that earlier that morning, Langley RCMP had recovered a red 1996 GMC Jimmy associated with Roberts near 56th Avenue and Logan Avenue.

Jang said police need friends of Roberts to step forward and fill in the blanks, and also anyone who may have seen his between Saturday and 6 a.m. on Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact IHIT via its information line at 1-877-551-IHIT or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Anonymous tips can also be reported through Crime Stoppers.

-With files from Janet Brown