A Fifth Estate investigation into a sudden spike in deadly crime in a small northern B.C. community has revealed key details in the final moments victims were last seen alive and unearthed communitywide frustration with the RCMP.
A late summer sun peeks through the branches, creating a blanket of soft dappled light over a dirt path that cuts through a dense forest of poplar and spruce trees.
“I had nothing to do with anybody’s death,” Ominayak said. “I wanna just keep my nose clean and stay out of trouble. That’s basically it.”viewer suggested we come to northern B.C. to investigate why so many people have been killed or gone missing in their community.
The biggest killer, by far, is fentanyl. Seventy-nine per cent of the northern health region’s drug overdoses were caused by the synthetic opioid in 2023.In 2021, a man was found dead on a rural road, south of Dawson Creek. His car had been set on fire. In January 2023, there was the double killing in Mile Zero Trailer Park. In April 2023, a body was found under a historic trestle bridge west of Dawson Creek.
In Dawson Creek proper, only one media outlet remains, a small CTV affiliate. It’s responsible for covering the news in a large swath of northeastern B.C. and western Alberta. He believes the recent crime wave needs national attention and national pressure for bold solutions. The status quo for people who live here, he said, is terrifying.
“She was using heroin all the time. She wouldn't stop,” said Brad Supernant, Darylyn’s father, during an interview at a park bench in downtown Dawson Creek. Breaking down in tears, he said he was unable to help his daughter.Disappointed with the RCMP response, Supernant’s family searched high and low. Cornish searched riverbeds and back roads, and travelled to nearby Fort St. John, then Grand Prairie, Alberta, finally taking her search as far as Vancovuer.
Two people were now missing, and tensions were growing, but Supernant’s family ignored the warnings and kept digging. Weeks turned into months. Then, late in December 2023, against this backdrop of fear and anger, a young man passed through town, stopping to ring in the new year. He would be the next to go missing.The 24-year old was devastated by the recent death of his baby boy, who had been born with severe heart issues.
Laura Lambert, who was an aunt to Darylyn Supernant and Renee Didier, considers herself to be a mother figure and a protective bear for the young people in Dawson Creek. Tense words were exchanged, but the night continued. A little after midnight, Hosack went outside to Facetime his longtime partner, and the mother of his deceased baby. Morgan Crawford had stayed behind in Prince George, planning to meet up with him later.
“ have lost confidence in the RCMP’s ability to address acute crime in the area,” said Doug Scott in a presentation to the mayor and council. Human remains were found on April 19 near Saskatoon Creek, on the outskirts of Dawson Creek. They were later determined to be the body of Darylyn Supernant. “I felt like such a weight lifted off of me, and I felt like I could breathe again,” said Cornish.
“She didn't listen and didn't stay put like she was supposed to. And heard some things she wasn't supposed to hear or saw something,” Cornish said. “They shot her in the face for that.”spoke to dozens of people in and around town over several months for this investigation. Two names kept coming up for people who might have more information about violent crime in Dawson Creek.
Weeks later, on Sept. 4, he was arrested again. His new charges include two counts of assaulting a police officer and obstruction. A search of his residence turned up several weapons, 1,000 rounds of ammunition and drugs, including 1.2 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and heroin.has learned he was last seen on CCTV video from a local tire store, across the street from the bar he was at on New Year’s Eve.
Families and people from the community of Dawson Creek continue to seek more answers. What is happening to their previously quiet town? But that doesn’t account for what happened to Cole Hosack, who was just passing through town when he vanished more than nine months ago. Wijayakoon declined to comment about the specifics of Hosack’s case.Family members of the missing and slain have raised several concerns about the RCMP.
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