A 25-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man found dead at a recovery home on Tuesday.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team located and arrested Steven Rogers at a residence in New Westminster on Wednesday. He made his first appearance in court Friday morning in connection with the death of 38-year-old Jason Collett.
“To have charge approval, only days following a homicide, speaks to the success of an integrated unit,” said IHIT Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound in a press release. “The strong work ethic shown by IHIT and New Westminster PD was the catalyst in bringing these homicide charges forward.”
According to a press release from the New Westminster Police Department, the victim and the accused were known to each other and this homicide was not a random attack. Further details regarding this homicide will not be released as it is now before the courts.
Rogers, who does not have a criminal record, will make his next court appearance on Oct. 8.
At 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, New Westminster police were called to a home in the 1100 block of Nanaimo Street where officers found the dead body of a man inside, according to a press release from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Wednesday morning, IHIT announced it had taken over the investigation, which was confirmed as a homicide.
The area surrounding the residence was closed to traffic for several hours following the discovery of the body on Tuesday as police interviewed neighbours and witnesses. Investigators with the New Westminster Police Department determined that the cause of death was likely the result of foul play and handed the case over to B.C.’s homicide team, the release added.
“IHIT is working closely with the New Westminster Police Department to determine what led up to the victim’s death. We are currently canvassing the area, speaking with witnesses and processing the scene,” Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound, spokesperson for the homicide team, said in the initial press release.
Homicide police were quick to jump on media outlets reporting the victim’s identity after the Last Door Recovery Society, the organization that runs the recovery home where the man was killed, released his name on social media Wednesday morning.
“IHIT is aware that the victim’s family have been notified of his death through various channels, however, IHIT has yet to speak with the family and until we do confirmation on his identity will not be released,” Pound said in the release.
Police have now identified the victim as Jason Collett. Initial reports on social media suggested he was an employee at the recovery home, but that has yet to be confirmed by police.
Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide team at 1-877-551-4448.
