Texts, photos needed in Armstrong teen’s murder
Posted Nov 2, 2011 04:45:46 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ARMSTRONG (NEWS1130) – Armstrong RCMP want to look at text messages to help piece together the final moments of a young girl’s life before she died Halloween night. Mounties are treating the death of Taylor Van Diest as a homicide but don’t have a suspect yet.
The 18-year old was heading out for Halloween on Monday when family, friends and police found her badly hurt near the railroad tracks. She later died in hospital.
Gord Molendyk with Vernon RCMP says people have come forward with information about Van Diest.
“However, we are appealing to everyone in this close-knit community of Armstrong who may have been in contact with Taylor during the day of October 31st from noon to 8:45 p.m., to call either the Armstrong RCMP Detachment or the Vernon RCMP Detachment.”
“Police believe messages were sent back and forth between friends with Taylor Van Diest. The police are asking anyone who was in contact with Taylor on October 31st, please call them or Crimestoppers,” he says. “The message or the photograph you send or received could go a long way to help us solve this crime,” he adds.
Police are urging people in Armstrong to travel in groups, check in with family members and carry cell phones. Van Diest’s autopsy is set for Thursday and police hope to release more information then.
Meanwhile, The Mayor of Armstrong says Van Diest’s death is yet another tragedy his community has had to suffer through.
In late September, 18-year old Cullen Rowan of Armstrong was electrocuted in a workplace accident. In October, two young children from Armstrong died after their grandparents’ motorhome caught fire near Lytton.
“They’re all soul-searching, who could possibly do this?” says Pieper. “We can’t imagine anybody locally did it,” he adds. “But to have a small town and have somewhat of a stranger come to town is really hard to comprehend too. I think our community is almost in shock,” he explains.
Pieper is pleading for anyone who knows anything about her death to call police.
Taylor Van Diest’s Trust Fund
Valley First Credit Union
Account number: 803536
