By rdnewsNOW staff

UPDATE: Mounties locate stolen van with body still inside

Jul 31, 2018 | 12:45 PM

Red Deer RCMP say they have located a van stolen from a north end funeral home this morning, along with the deceased body inside it at the time. 

Police say the black 2014 Chrysler Town and Country van was found abandoned in the Glendale neighbourhood. Mounties went door to door in the area to see if anyone saw anything, or anyone suspicious in relation to this investigation.

In a release, City Mounties say they are committed to finding those responsible for the theft. The Forensic Identification Section is assisting in the investigation.

The van was stolen at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday from the parking lot of a funeral home after the driver briefly exited the van, which contained the body of a deceased man in the back. 

The man’s next of kin was notified of the theft. 

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“This vehicle theft was almost certainly a crime of opportunity, but with a very unfortunate and upsetting twist in that there is a deceased person in the back,” Red Deer RCMP Superintendent Ken Foster said of the incident. “This is a sensitive incident and we’re very aware of the distress it is causing to the family of the deceased and everyone connected to the incident. Red Deer RCMP have been working non-stop since the theft was reported, and we have committed extensive resources and effort, including the helicopter, to locate this van and resolve this situation as quickly as possible.”

Locating the van and deceased body was the result of public assistance, RCMP say. The Alberta RCMP helicopter was called in to help officers with their search.  

Red Deer RCMP are thanking the public and the media for their interest and engagement in working towards locating the van.