Tatjana Stefanski's body was located by police April 14. (photo from Facebook)

By Pete McIntyre

Update

‘We are scared’: family of homicide victim leaves home

Apr 19, 2024 | 3:00 PM

The boyfriend of a woman found dead last weekend in the North Okanagan says changes need to be made to the catch and release laws in B.C. to better protect potential victims

Jason Goodreault said on Facebook, a person of interest in the suspicious death of Tatjana Stefanski, believed to be her ex-husband, was released under conditions after her body was recovered on April 14.

“Yes, [the person of interest] was released under strict conditions, but after his release the first time, we had an alarming event that happened at my home in Lumby so I had called the police to come and assist,” Goodreault wrote.

“After the police had left my property, [the person] was apprehended a very short distance away for a second time. He was brought back to a police station and was again released. So he is still free and needless to say we are scared and have vacated my property.”

Goodreault said the problem is at a higher level than the police.

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“Trust me, they are doing all they can do within laws and regulations. Do not lash out on them. This is about the catch and release laws that need to be changed at a way higher level.”

Goodreault said his highest priority is the children and their safety.

“Things need to change like tracking devices, or something could have been part or the release conditions, or more security for families like us who can’t even go home because we are scared for our lives,” he posted.

Stefanski’s body was found in a remote location on the Mabel Lake Forest Service Road Sunday and RCMP said a male “believed to be involved in the death was arrested in the general vicinity.”

Stefanski, 44, was allegedly abducted after speaking with her ex-husband in Lumby.

Police have not issued an update on the investigation into Stefanski’s death since Monday, April 15.

Vernon Matters reached out to the BC Prosecution Service for an update on possible charges.

“I do not have an update regarding the Lumby case,” Damienne Darby, communications counsel with the BC Prosecution Service, said.

“It is not unusual for it to take some time for the police to gather all the relevant evidence before submitting a report to Crown counsel.”

One reason for police no longer rushing to recommend charges is the Jordan decision.

The Supreme Court of Canada’s 2016 ruling rejected the framework traditionally used to determine whether an accused was tried within a reasonable time under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and replaced it with a limit of 18 months between the charges and the trial in a provincial court without preliminary inquiry, or 30 months in other cases.