THE Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is seeking public assistance to further its investigation into the suspicious death of 34-year-old Nicole Hasselmann (a.k.a. Nicole Porciello) of Burnaby. According to social media she was a special education assistant working with the Vancouver School District.

On Friday, November 16 at approximately 10 p.m., the Burnaby RCMP received a report of a motor vehicle incident involving a 2017 charcoal grey Kia Sorento SUV in the 8000-block of Barnet Highway. Officers found a man and a woman who were taken to hospital.

The man is expected to make a full recovery but the woman, later identified as Hasselmann, had injuries indicative of foul play and later died in hospital. Due to the suspicious nature of her death, IHIT was called in to take conduct of the investigation.

IHIT says it continues to work closely with the Burnaby RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and the B.C. Coroners Service to gather evidence. This incident is not believed to be random and there appears to be no risk to public safety.

IHIT says investigators are working diligently to develop a timeline of Hasselmann’s activities on November 16 and would like to speak with anyone who saw her or the grey Kia Sorento at the following three locations:

· 7000-block of Ridgeview Drive, Burnaby

· 200-block of College Park Way, Port Moody

· 8000-block of Barnet Highway, Burnaby

“The development of the victim’s timeline is important in any homicide investigation and it is proving to be crucial in this case,” says IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang.

Anyone with information 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, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).