The body of Wendy Ladner-Beaudry found near the UBC endowment lands

From Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER — The victim in Friday’s brutal slaying near the UBC endowment lands has been confirmed as Wendy Ladner-Beaudry, sister to former Vancouver councillor and mayoral candidate Peter Ladner.

“It’s tragic,” said Bob Ransford, a friend of the Ladner family.

Ransford said he heard the news during a meeting today of the Non-Partisan Association, the party that Peter Ladner ran for in his failed bid to become mayor.

“We’re shocked. They’re shocked,” he said.

Ladner-Beaudry, co-chair of the BC Games Society, was apparently jogging when she was killed, Ransford said.

Police are warning women to be on guard as a massive homicide investigation was launched Friday after Ladner-Beaudry’s body was found by a hiker near the juncture of Southwest Marine Drive and West 41st Avenue at approximately 2:45 p.m.

Police confirmed that the death was the result of foul play.

Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the victim, but RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said Saturday that the identity was known and RCMP had spoken to the family. A confirmation is expected later today.

When contacted by The Vancouver Sun Peter Ladner said he planned to make a public statement later today.

The RCMP, police forces from Vancouver, Delta, Richmond and New Westminster are “combining resources on this case,” Thiessen said Friday night, adding that the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was also investigating.

“We recognize that people are going to have concerns and we share those concerns. Rest assured that we are employing all necessary resources in an effort to find out what happened and we want to reassure the public that we will provide information as quickly as possible,” Thiessen said in a statement.

with files from Miro Cernetig and Graeme Wood