Date:   Jan 7, 2015

Victoria BC – Today the Coroners Service of British Columbia released its reports on the three fatalities that occurred as a result of the February 2013 Johnson Street house fire.  Georgia Paige Truman Klap, Mark Jeffrey Mitchell, and Emily Grace Morin died in this tragic event.

This statement is intended to provide supplementary information regarding the coroner’s report on the death of Mr. Mitchell.  The VicPD Investigative Services Division conducted an extensive investigation in relation to this fire in cooperation with the Victoria Fire Department and the Coroners Service of British Columbia.  VicPD investigators interviewed everyone who was present at the home on the evening of the fire and conducted a thorough forensic analysis of the scene.  Based on this information, as highlighted in the coroner’s report on Mr. Mitchell’s death, VicPD found no evidence of any foul play related to this tragic fire or in the death of any of the three victims.

“Our investigation concluded that this was a tragic incident,” said lead VicPD investigator Sergeant Jamie McRae.  “While Mr. Mitchell’s injuries included puncture wounds as outlined in the coroner’s report, our investigation concluded that there is no evidence of any foul play related to this tragedy.”