‘Shocking and unsettling’: Abbotsford mayor offers condolences after double homicide
Posted May 12, 2022 9:36 pm.
Last Updated May 13, 2022 6:25 am.
Abbotsford mayor Henry Braun offered his personal condolences and prayers to both the De Jong family and the community.
Police found the bodies of 77-year-old Arnold De Jong and his wife, 76-year-old Joanne De Jong in their Arcadian Way home after being called Monday morning.
Braun said that he personally knew the couple for decades, and the grief was being felt across the city.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the De Jong family at this time and our most sincere condolences go to out to them and their loved ones. Losing loved ones is not easy.,” said Braun.
“I knew Arnie and Joanne De Jong for over 40 years and their loss is felt by many in our community.”
Braun added that while incidents like this are rare in Abbotsford, that fact “makes it all the more shocking and unsettling for the community.”
“As a community, we are concerned with the uncertainty that follows an investigation like this,” said Braun.
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“They’re not known to police. They were an elderly couple in that area — and it’s a quiet area,” said Sgt. David Lee with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).
“It’s definitely unusual,” Lee said. “We’re alive to the concerns of the community. It’s a very complex scene and we’re piecing together the leads right now. Hopefully, we’ll have some more answers into what is the motive and which suspects we’re looking for.”
The cause of death has not been shared by police.
“We’re fairly certain right now that is not related to any ongoing gang activity, not connected to anything else we’ve seen so far in the Lower Mainland,” Lee added.
The mayor and police both ask that anyone with information call IHIT on the Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
With files from Denise Wong and John Ackermann
