Lumby, which has a population of around 2,000, is located approximately 55 kilometres northeast of Kelowna. (Village of Lumby)
In their original statement about Stefanski’s disappearance on Saturday, police also included the name of her ex-husband, with whom she was last seen.
But on Tuesday, they sent out an email saying they had released incorrect information and the man named in the original release “was never and is in no way connected to our investigation.”
The statement has been updated and still says Stefanski was last seen with her ex-husband, but police have not confirmed his name or whether he is a suspect in her disappearance.
After announcing the discovery of the deceased woman and arrest of one suspect, police said they would not be identifying either individual — though they have since reported Stefanski was found deceased while not confirming when or where.
RCMP have not replied to multiple interview requests from CBC News, and have instead primarily communicated through written statements. (Shannon VanRaes/Reuters)
Police have also not provided details of the conditions placed upon the arrested man prior to his release, and have not responded to questions asking what they are.
The B.C. Prosecution Service, which is responsible for pressing charges based on police investigations and evidence, said it does not have an active prosecution file in connection to the case, and directed queries back to RCMP.
Criminal justice lawyer Glenn Verdurmen explained that while he does not know the details of this specific case, in general there is a process that needs to be followed in order for a person to be held in custody by police.
“There has to be sufficient evidence that police .. have probable grounds [to believe] that the person is guilty,” he said. “What do they actually know?”
A criminal justice lawyer says that RCMP has to have probable cause before detaining a suspect, and cannot detain someone indefinitely. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Absent sufficient evidence, he said, a person cannot be held indefinitely if charges are not brought against them.
“People are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty,” the lawyer said.
Perkins, the school superintendent, said some people in the community are expressing frustration at the lack of information being provided by officials.
But at this point, she said, she simply has to “trust the process” and that everyone is working together to get through the coming weeks together.
“A mom is gone, that’s the hard part” she said. “And in a small town like Lumby … everybody knows.”
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