Abbotsford bodies identified by police

Police in Abbotsford, B.C. have released the names of two men found dead earlier this week, saying the victims' criminal lifestyles likely led to their demise.

Sean Patrick Murphy, 21, of nearby Mission, B.C., was found Monday night in Abbotsford, east of Vancouver, slumped over the wheel of a car on Bateman Road by police who were responding to reports of gunfire.

Then Ryan Richards, 19, of Abbotsford, was found in a grass field not far from Highway 1 and the Vedder Canal on Tuesday morning.

Police have not released a cause of death, but said he died of foul play. Const. Casey Vinet said there was a strong possibility Richards was dumped there after being killed elsewhere.

Vinet said both men had criminal histories linking them with organized crime, but he would not comment on media reports they were linked to the Red Scorpions gang.

"We don't believe these homicides were random and there is a strong possibility that the victims' own criminal lifestyles led to their deaths. It's unknown at this time if the two cases are in any way connected, but it is something investigators are carefully considering," said Vinet.

No arrests have been made in the investigations, which are being handled by the regional Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.