Sunday Feb. 23
Sooke RCMP confirmed that the person they found deceased was Bob Deryk. The body was discovered at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the identity of the body was confirmed on Sunday. The cause of death is currently undetermined, but the police do not suspect foul play.
The case is still under investigation. The file will still be submitted to Crown council, where they will review the file to see if it still meets the threshold for charge approval. Charges will not be laid.
On Thursday Feb. 21, there were as many as 50 searchers out looking for Deryk, “Bonsai Bob.” The search crew included the Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue, other search and rescue groups from the Greater Victoria area, a dive team, a Swift Water Rescue team from the Cowichan Valley, an RCMP helicopter, police dog from Victoria, and police officers searching on foot.
Wright expressed deep appreciation on behalf of the Sooke RCMP. “Particularly we’d like to thank all of the volunteers of the Search and Rescue organizations that helped us. I can’t begin to thank them enough for putting their lives on hold and their safety to come out and assist us. It’s not easy work and it can be very dangerous at times.”
Monday Feb. 25
2:50 a.m. RCMP responded to a call that a man attacked two people with an axe. He will be charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of assault causing bodily harm. Two local men were taken to the hospital with serious lacerations but non-life-threatening injuries. At the time of this report, the investigation was ongoing. The Sooke RCMP had one man in custody and they have recovered the weapon.