“It’s bittersweet” – Dana McKellar’s Remains Identified

Date:   Jun 16, 2015

File #     14-39245

Victoria, BC – VIIMCU investigators have notified the McKellar family that the BC Coroners Service has identified the remains located during the search of the Goward Road property as those of Dana McKellar. Our thoughts are with the McKellar family at this difficult time.

“It’s bittersweet,” VicPD Inspector Keith Lindner said. “This is someone’s father, someone’s son. It’s good for the investigation to locate him, but it is difficult for his family to have to let go of their hopes that he was still alive. It’s a small consolation for us that were are able to help bring him home.”

We reiterate the McKellar family’s request for privacy.

Dana McKellar was located as part of one of the largest searches ever undertaken on Vancouver Island. Officers from Saanich PD, the RCMP, and VicPD worked on the Goward Road property from Tuesday, June 2nd, to Saturday, June 13th, searching for evidence in his disappearance. Investigators located his remains on Thursday, June 11th. The BC Coroners Service identified them yesterday, and his family was notified.

Dana McKellar, a Victoria father, was reported missing to VicPD in September of last year. After a comprehensive investigation, VIIMCU was brought on board to lead the search. Investigators discovered that McKellar had been previously assaulted in July 2014.

Now that his remains have been identified and his family notified, the next step for investigators is to determine how he died, how he came to be at the Goward Road property, and who is responsible. The investigation is continuing.

Neither the property owners, nor the businesses operating from where the remains were recovered, are associated to this investigation.

If you know anything about Dana McKellar’s disappearance you are asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654 or report it anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).