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October 17, 2013
Bullish on the real news in the Monashee
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Online Community News for Lumby, Cherryville, Rural Coldstream and Highway 6
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The RCMP Southeast District Major Crimes Unit and Armstrong RCMP, police confirmed on Thursday April 5th that two individuals have been arrested in connection with murder of Taylor Van Diest and two other incidents that occurred in 2004 and 2005.
“Today’s announcement is a result of the thousands of investigative man hours, thousands of tips and extensive forensic analysis and specialized investigative techniques and avenues,” said Insp. Brendan Fitzpatrick, Operations Officer for the RCMP’s BC Major Crime Section.
26 year old Matthew Stephen Foerster, a former resident of Cherryville, BC has been charged with one count of 2nd degree murder for the October 31st death of Taylor Van Diest. He has also been charged with one count of sexual assault and unlawful confinement in connection with the April 12, 2005 sexual assault of a Kelowna woman.
Additional charges have been laid in connection with a home invasion that took place October 19, 2004 in Cherryville BC, in which a 19 year old young woman was assaulted.
Shortly before 11:00 am (PST) on Wednesday April 4th, BC RCMP, Southeast District Major Crimes Unit arrested Matthew Stephen Foerster, on a Canada wide warrant, at a motel in Collingwood, Ontario.
The BC RCMP officers were assisted by investigators from the Collingwood O.P.P. and Ontario RCMP. The arrest was completed without incident and efforts are underway to transport him back to BC to answer to the charges.
58 year old Stephen Roy Foerster, Matthew’s father and a current resident of Cherryville, BC has been charged with Obstruction of Justice and Accessory After the Fact to murder in connection with the homicide death of Taylor Van Diest. He was arrested without incident at his residence around 2:20 pm (PST) on Wednesday April 4th.
“Our Southeast District Major Crime Unit took the lead on this investigation, they utilized resources from our local detachment, E Division Major Crime Section, partner agencies and many other RCMP support services to identify the suspect and bring this case before the court”, said Supt. Reg Burgess, the Officer in Charge of Vernon/North Okanagan Detachment. “Although the investigation was a multifaceted joint effort, it is the leaders and teams on our Southeast District Major Crime Unit who coordinated the efforts and worked this case hard to obtain the success we have to date”.
“While the work done by the investigators cannot be overstated, I must also recognize the high degree of support and assistance received from the public and the media at large,” said Insp. Brendan Fitzpatrick. “The combined efforts stand as a prime example of the effectiveness of the public and media working together with police”.
While arrests have been made, the investigation is ongoing. Investigators are continuing their efforts to establish a detailed time line of Matthew Foerster’s activities on the day and night of Taylor’s murder on October 31st, 2011 and his travel and activities from December 2011 to March 2012.
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Good afternoon.
My name is Insp. Brendan Fitzpatrick and I am the Operations Officer for the RCMP “E” Division Major Crime Section.
I am here today to announce significant progress has been made in the October 31st, 2011 homicide investigation of 18 year old Taylor Van Diest. Taylor was murdered while walking to meet friends in preparation to celebrate Halloween.
On behalf of the RCMP Southeast District Major Crimes Unit and Armstrong RCMP – I can confirm two individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder of Taylor Van Diest.
Today’s announcement is a result of thousands of investigative man hours, thousands of tips, and extensive forensic analysis and specialized investigative techniques and avenues.
The tireless and dedicated efforts of the RCMP officers, laboratory scientists, ViCLAS analysts, Behavioural Profilers, support staff and that of other police agencies that assisted the Southeast District Major Crime Unit, was evident during the careful handling and timely follow up of approximately 1250 tips that came in from the public. These tips generated a significant amount of information that had to be checked, verified, expanded and even eliminated. As you will learn, the investigation reached across the country and involved multiple different agencies.
Throughout the investigation, we were mindful of the need to provide the immediate community of Armstrong, the Okanagan Region and the general public with as much information that we could in order to address public fear after this disturbing homicide.
We had to strike a balance between what could be said and what was required to absolutely protect and maintain the integrity of the investigation. The extraordinary step of releasing of a composite sketch based on information from a 2005 Kelowna Sexual Assault investigation and linking DNA evidence was disclosed publically.
Police efforts aided by the accumulated public information paid off. On Tuesday April 3rd, investigators obtained warrants for the arrest of Matthew Stephen Foerster and his father Stephen Roy Foerster in connection with Taylor’s murder.
Matthew Stephen Foerster, 26 yrs old and a former resident of Cherryville BC, is facing a charge of 2nd degree murder for the October 31st death of Taylor Van Diest. He has also been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of unlawful confinement in connection with the April 12, 2005 sexual assault of a Kelowna woman employed at the Garden of Eden Escort Service in Kelowna. Additional charges of possession of a break in instrument, break and enter into a dwelling house to commit an indictable offence and assault with a weapon have been laid in relation to a home invasion that took place October 19, 2004 in Cherryville BC. In that case a young, 19 year old woman was seriously assaulted.
Shortly before 2pm EST or 11 am PST on Wednesday April 4th, BC RCMP, investigators from the Southeast District Major Crime Unit, on the strength of a Canada Wide Warrant, arrested Matthew Stephen Foerster at a motel in Collingwood, Ontario.
The BC RCMP officers were assisted by investigators from the Collingwood Detachment of Ontario Provincial Police and RCMP “O” Division or Ontario RCMP. The arrest was completed without incident. Efforts are underway to transport him back to BC to answer to the charges.
58 year old Stephen Roy Foerster, a current resident of Cherryville, BC has been charged with Obstruction of Justice and Accessory After the Fact to murder in connection with the homicide death of Taylor Van Diest.
Around 2:20 pm PST on Wednesday April 4th. BC RCMP investigators from the Southeast District Major Crimes Unit assisted by members of the Lumby/North Okanagan Vernon Detachment arrested Stephen Roy Foerster at his residence in Cherryville BC.
Both remain in police custody at this time.
While the work done by the investigators cannot be overstated, I must also recognize the high degree of support and assistance received from the public and the media at large. The combined efforts stand as a prime example of the effectiveness of the public and media working together with police.
While arrests have been made, the investigation is ongoing. Much work and investigation remains to be done. We are extending our request for assistance from the public and the media today in uncovering more information.
Investigators are continuing their efforts to establish a detailed time line of Matthew Foerster’s activities on the day and night of Taylor’s murder on October 31st, 2011
We would like to hear from anyone who has not already spoken to investigators that now, with the release of today’s information on his arrest may have information about any contact they had with him on Halloween night. Again with a release of his photo today we would like to hear from any other witnesses who may have information regarding that night.
We also would like to establish a time line of his travels and activities from December 2011 up to the end of March 2012.
We are releasing a photo today of Matthew Stephen Foerster in order to advance this investigation and in an effort to determine whether there are any other offenses that need further review. Please call the specially created tip line established for this investigation. The number is 1-888-688-4264.
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justice
in search of
A tragic event now reveals a difficult journey that will now challenge the very soul of our community as this story unfolds.
On December 29th 2011, RCMP confirmed with MVS that they were in Cherryville to investigate leads in the death of Taylor Van Diest. Cpl. Dan Moskaluk reported that, "The RCMP SED MCU (Southeast District Major Crimes Unit) continue their efforts in advancing the investigation into the murder of Taylor Van Diest. Officers have been present in numerous communities conducting interviews throughout BC including Cherryville. No arrests have been made in connection with Taylor's death at this time."
investigation
arrest
Thursday April 5, 2012
Multiple charges have been laid in a series of investigations that included the tragic death of 18 year old Taylor Van Diest on October 31, 2011.
police
story
the
A Statement issued by
Insp. Brendan Fitzpatrick, Operations Officer for "E" Division Major Crime Section
Story Updates
Update:Taylor Van Diest homicide
Matthew Foerster now facing
1st degree murder charge
April 19, 2012
Investigators with the RCMP Southeast District Major Crimes Unit and the offices of the BC Crown Prosecutor are confirming that there has been an amendment to criminal charges on April 18 2012, regarding Matthew Foerster.
Matthew Foerster’s initial charge of second degree murder has been upgraded to 1st degree murder in connection with the homicide death of Taylor Van Diest.
The Southeast District Major Crimes Unit are continuing their investigative efforts and would like to hear from anyone who has not already spoken to investigators with information about any contact they had with Matthew Foerster on Halloween night 2011. With the recent release of his photo and recent video images, we would like to hear from any other witnesses who may have information regarding that night.
Investigators also are continuing their efforts in establishing a time line of his travels and activities from December 2011 up to the end of March 2012.
The release of these photos and video images were made in order to advance this investigation and in an effort to determine whether there are any other offenses that need further review.
Should anyone have any information regarding these matters, please call the specially created tip line established for this investigation at 1-888-688-4264.
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