Family members of two New Westminster women killed in August listened quietly as police announced first-degree murder charges against a Surrey man at a press conference on Jan. 6.
Sheri Hickman, mother of Jill Lyons, and Herb Auerbach, father of Karen Nabors, addressed media following the announcement that a 32-year-old Surrey man is facing two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly killing Lyons and Nabors in August.
Both Hickman and Auerbach expressed gratitude to police for their hard work and dedication to the investigation into the deaths of Lyons and Nabors – women they said were deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
“The first time I saw her, I looked into her big brown eyes and I fell in love with her, and from then on we shared a close relationship,” Hickman said.
Lyons was adopted when she was only four months old. She grew up on Salt Spring Island, riding horses, skating on frozen ponds, and enjoying the outdoors, Hickman said.
“She was an adorable baby and a sweet little girl. She loved rainbows and puppies and princesses,” she said.
Lyons was 45 years old when she was found dead in her 11th Street apartment on Aug. 12. Nearly two weeks later the body of Nabors, 48, was found in another unit of the 11th Street apartment building.
Both women had a history of drug use and were employed as online escorts, but their chosen occupation doesn’t mean they deserved to die, Auerbach told reporters at the conference on Monday.
“Whether hers was more or less risky than others, either in the fishery or forestry business, is not relevant. Murder is a crime that is unacceptable in any job,” he said.
Lyons and Nabors were friends, sisters, and daughters. They both leave behind large families, including two children each.
“She (Nabors) could have been anyone’s kid,” Auerbach said. “She had a very strong sense of justice and she stood up for anyone who needed her help. She didn’t brag about that because she didn’t think it was anything special, it was just the right thing to do … It’s hard for us to believe this boisterous and fiery person has been silenced.”
Hickman told reporters she was surprised at how quickly investigators, which included officers from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, New Westminster Police Department and Surrey RCMP, were able to announce charges in her daughter’s murder.
At the time of Lyons’ and Nabors’ deaths, the public criticized the police for how they were handling the case, but it was a necessary part of the investigation, said New Westminster Chief Const. Dave Jones.
“When these types of investigations occur, the police often find themselves in a very tough position. You have to constantly balance the integrity of the investigation with the public’s right to know what is happening, and sometimes a lack of information can lead to assumptions,” he said. “All police agencies take the investigation of violence against women extremely seriously and I believe bringing the file to the stages it’s at today demonstrates, not only, our commitment to our community, but in particular, our commitment to investigating crimes of violence against women.”
According to Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the homicide team, investigators had to wait for several test results, which took a lengthy amount of time.
Pound credited the strength of the investigation to the availability of surveillance footage of streets and businesses.
Police remain tight-lipped about the motive for the homicides, stating the case is now before the courts and therefore limits what investigators can say about the circumstances.
Surrey resident Sarbjit Bains, 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly killing both Lyons and Nabors in August 2013. Police also announced the accused is facing one count of second-degree murder for allegedly killing Surrey resident Amritpal Saran last February.
Evelina Urbaniak, 36, is also facing one count of accessory after the fact in the death of Saran.
Both Bains and Urbaniak are also charged with indignity to human remains in Saran’s murder. According to Pound, there is no evidence to suggest the Surrey victim knew either Lyons or Nabors.
Bains’ next court appearance is on Jan. 22 in New Westminster.
