Charges have been laid against a 67-year-old man in the 2017 killing of Chelsey Gauthier of Abbotsford.
Gary David Losch has been charged with second-degree murder and interference with a dead body. The date of the offences is listed as July 27, 2017 in Mission.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced the charges on Saturday.
Gauthier, 22, was reported missing in July 2017, after having last been seen at the McDonald’s restaurant at Bourquin Crescent West and South Fraser Way in Abbotsford on July 27.
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Her body was found Aug. 16 of that year in an isolated area of Mission near Sylvester Road and Dale Road. IHIT reported that her death was “consistent with homicide.”
Gauthier was the mom of two daughters, who were ages 3 and 2 when she was killed.
Her cause of death has not been released, but police have said they believed her killing was “not random.”
“Miss Gauthier was a 22-year old mother of two,” said Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of IHIT. “(The) arrest and charges are a testament to the dedication of the investigating team and their partnership with AbbyPD, who worked for five years investigating this case.”
Losch has an extensive criminal record, including convictions for offences such as resisting a peace officer, theft, criminal harassment, assault, breaching his conditions, arson, drug possession and uttering threats.
vhopes@abbynews.com
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