PRINCE GEORGE 鈥� The drowning deaths of two teenagers during a post-graduation party last spring were a homicide and suicide, RCMP investigators have concluded.
Craig Allen Wood, 19, and Kendall Gabriella Catherine Moore, 17, died the morning of May 18, when the vehicle they were in went into Kwitzil Lake, more commonly known as Gravel Pit Lake, off Highway 16 about 42 kilometres west of Prince George, according to police.
In the days following the incident, Wood鈥檚 family issued a statement saying they had reason to believe the two were sleeping inside the vehicle, a 1994 two-door GMC Jimmy, when it began a slow roll toward the lake.
But on Wednesday, RCMP said investigators have determined Wood鈥檚 actions led to his and Moore鈥檚 deaths and concluded it was a homicide and suicide.
鈥淭his is a tragic result to an entirely preventable situation,鈥� Sgt. Todd Wilson of the Prince George RCMP鈥檚 serious crime section said in a statement. 鈥淲e believe substance abuse was a direct factor in these deaths.鈥�
RCMP also said the investigation was extensive and involved many aspects, including forensic-evidence analysis, a vehicle inspection, multiple interviews and autopsies, which included toxicology testing.
鈥淭he investigation was hampered due to the high amounts of rumours and speculation on both traditional and social media that began just after the vehicle entered Kwitzil Lake and continued for days,鈥� RCMP said in the statement.
鈥淧olice were challenged to filter through this information in order to locate and validate the facts. Those facts have brought this investigation to conclusion.鈥�
