Stewart McLean, the actor known for his work in “Virgin River,” has been found dead in British Columbia after being reported missing, and police say the case is now being investigated as a homicide. He was 45.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said his remains were discovered in Lions Bay, a community about 30 miles north of Vancouver. Officials have described the case as an “isolated incident,” while the BC Coroners Service is still determining the cause of death.
Missing person report led to a homicide probe
Police first received a missing person report for McLean through the Squamish division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Monday. He was last seen at his home in Lions Bay on May 15, and officers later said they were “very concerned for Stewart’s health and well-being.”
By Thursday, the RCMP had handed the case to IHIT, which said it began investigating McLean’s death on Wednesday. In a statement, police said investigators found evidence that led them to believe he was the victim of homicide, though they did not describe that evidence.
What investigators are doing now
IHIT said the investigation is still active and focused on building a timeline of McLean’s activities before May 15. Detectives are reviewing physical evidence, CCTV footage, and witness interviews as they try to piece together what happened.
Cpl. Esther Tupper said investigators are pursuing “all available leads” in hopes of answering questions for McLean’s family, friends, and loved ones. IHIT is also asking anyone with information about the case to contact investigators.
McLean’s acting work and industry response
McLean most recently appeared in an episode of Netflix’s romance series “Virgin River,” according to his IMDb profile. He was also known for roles in “Beyond” and “Traveler,” and appeared in more than 30 productions over the course of his career.
His agency, Lucas Talent Inc., described him in a Facebook post as “dedicated, professional, eager, and endlessly funny.” Agent Jodi Caplan, who worked with him for more than 10 years, said the reaction from casting directors showed how much he was respected in the industry.
“Many casting directors have reached out to share their condolences with Stew’s family and with our agency, and every message says the same thing: what a truly great guy he was, and how deeply he will be missed,” she said.
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