Abbotsford deadly vehicle fire victims identified

The victims of a deadly vehicle fire near Abbotsford last month have been identified by investigators.

The incident happened on Jan. 3, when Abbotsford Police Department officers were called out to Sumas Mountain Regional Park shortly before 3 p.m., where they found a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander that had been set on fire.

After fire crews extinguished the blaze, officers found human remains inside the vehicle. “The Abbotsford Police Major Crime Unit is in the preliminary stages of the investigation working with the BC Coroners’ Service to identify the remains in the vehicle,” the AbbyPD said at the time.

According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), the remains of two people were located inside the burnt vehicle.

In an update Thursday, IHIT identified the victims as 44-year-old Christopher Carter and 48-year-old Sandy Raposo of the Lower Mainland area.

“We believe there are individuals who know what happened to Chris and Sandy, and we are asking them to do the right thing by contacting IHIT. We are interested in speaking with anyone who may have been in contact with Chris and Sandy in the days leading up to their death,” said Sgt. Freda Fong.

Anyone with information about the case is being asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at [email protected].

—With files from Charlie Carey and Emma Crawford