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Vernon  

Charged in student's death

Police in Vernon have arrested a man wanted in connection with the death of a Japanese student who has been missing for weeks.

Vancouver Police found the body of Natsumi Kogawa, 30, at a mansion in Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood on Sept. 28 just before 7 p.m.

Hours later, RCMP in the North Okanagan arrested William Victor Schneider, 48, in Vernon. He has been charged with Indignity to a human body and remains in custody.

An autopsy is being conducted Monday, and police are not ruling out more charges.

“While on the surface, the appearance is that (a homicide charge) is appropriate, we can’t work with appearances. We have to work with facts and evidence,” said acting Sgt. Brian Montague with Vancouver Police.

Police are saying little about the arrest itself.

“As far as what information led to Mr. Schneider being arrested, I’m not in a position to comment,” he said.

Police will not say specifically where he was taken into custody. However, at about the same time as the arrest, police put crime scene tape up in Polson Park.

A makeshift camp was located behind police tape. Police characterized Schneider as being from numerous communities throughout B.C. – in other words, homeless.

Vernon RCMP have passed along Castanet's request for more information about what happened in Polson Park to Montague, who has also been the point-person for the investigation into Schneider.



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