SEAN McKenzie, 27, of Oliver has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Belgian tourist Amelie Sakkalis, 28.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) and its partner agencies arrested McKenzie on September 14. He will appear before a judge in B.C. Provincial Court on September 19.

He does not have a criminal record.

On August 22 at approximately 7:45 p.m., the RCMP were called to an area north of Boston Bar near Highway 1 where they found the body of Sakkalis, who was travelling in Canada.  Her death was deemed a homicide and IHIT was called in to take conduct of the investigation.

Since the initial deployment, IHIT detectives collected significant evidence with respect to Sakkalis’ murder.

IHIT released photos of McKenzie, saying that part of its reason for doing so was that anyone who saw him with Sakkalis on August 22 will contact it as the investigation is still ongoing. Sakkalis travels extensively throughout the province for work.

“Part of the reason we are sharing his photograph today is that we hope people will have a face to the name and we are hoping that people who saw Mr. McKenzie with Miss Sakkalis on August 22 will contact IHIT,” he said. “We are not done with this investigation.”

“IHIT investigators worked relentlessly to secure and compile the evidence for charge approval and today’s outcome would not have been possible without the tremendous support of our partners,” said IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang.  “Amelie’s family in Belgium was notified of the developments in her case and IHIT hopes this will assist them in their healing process.”

Anyone with information, who has not already come forward to police, is asked to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).