Murder charges laid after New Westminster woman’s burned body found in Burnaby
Posted March 24, 2021 2:22 pm.
Last Updated March 26, 2021 10:51 am.
BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – A man and teen are charged with first-degree murder after the burned body of a New Westminster woman was found in a Burnaby park last week.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) believes Maria (Ma) Cecilia Loreto, 49, was killed in her home last Wednesday. Her remains were found early Thursday morning in Greentree Village Park.
The body was found at around 2 a.m. in the park, which is located near the BCIT campus. Investigators believe the victim may have been in the area up to two hours before.
A man and teen are charged with first-degree murder after the burned body of a New Westminster woman was found in a Burnaby park last week. https://t.co/nz2S4W4KGK #BurnabyBC #NewWest pic.twitter.com/gCiJcFwDT1
— CityNews 1130 Vancouver (Inactive) (@news1130) March 25, 2021
Sgt. Frank Jang with IHIT says Carlo Tobias, 21, was charged Tuesday morning with first-degree murder and indignity to human remains. A 15-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, faces the same charges.
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“We have a very good idea of what happened. We have a narrative. We have a very good theory. But all that information, right now, isn’t for public consumption,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of people that would like to know what happened … but those details must first and foremost be provided within the judicial process, in court.”
“She was a mother, had a loving family,” Jang said of the victim. “We had to deliver the news of two people now being charged with their loved one’s murder. As we can all understand, they’re devastated.”
Mounties believe this was a targeted killing.
“This was not gang-related. This was not drug-related. This was not a random incident,” Jang said.
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He says the victim and two accused knew each other, but wouldn’t share any further details of their relationships.
None of them are known to police.
“When it comes to the concern for public safety, we don’t believe that there’s any continued concern,” he added.
