IIO Seeking Witnesses to December Death in Smithers (2025-303)
Case: 2025-303 Incident Date: December 27, 2025 Agency: RCMP Location: Smithers Detachment: Smithers Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Open - Investigation in ProgressINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is seeking witnesses in the death of a female youth who was found deceased in Smithers on December 27, 2025.
The youth was reported missing to the RCMP on the evening of December 26, after staff at her residence were unable to locate her. She was last seen in the area around 9th Avenue and Main Street at approximately 7 p.m. and last spoke with someone by phone around 9 p.m.
Her body was located on a walking trail in Riverside Park shortly after 10 a.m. on December 27.
At the time she was dropped off on December 26, the youth was wearing a white puffy jacket, blue jeans and carrying a black purse.
However, when she was located deceased the following day, she was found wearing grey pajama pants, a black shirt, black sweater and western style ankle boots.
The IIO was notified on December 31 and started an investigation.
Investigators would like to speak to anyone who saw the woman in either location or at any point on the evening of December 26 or morning of December 27. Additionally, anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged get in touch with the IIO.
There are two factors that the IIO considers at the beginning of each investigation:
- If there has been an injury that meets the threshold of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act, or a death; and
- If there is a connection between the serious harm/death and officer action or inaction.
If both conditions are met, the investigation will continue to examine all available evidence to determine what occurred. At the conclusion of the investigation, the chief civilian director will consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence may have occurred.
The IIO asks that any witnesses who have information or video footage regarding this matter to please contact the IIO at our Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
Background
The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of officers and detention guards in British Columbia. It investigates all incidents involving officers or detention guards that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.