Remains found in B.C. identified as woman who went missing in 2017

Mounties in British Columbia's Interior say human remains found last month have been confirmed as being a woman who went missing near Sicamous nearly eight years ago.

They say the remains were discovered on a rural property in Salmon Arm on May 5, and the B.C. Coroners Service has since linked them to Nicole Bell.

She was 31 when she disappeared in September 2017, and major crime investigators who took conduct of the case quickly confirmed the woman's disappearance "was the result of foul play."

She was one of five women who went missing in the North Okanagan over a 20-month period in 2016 and 2017, but police say it has been established that the disappearances were not all associated to the same person.

But the RCMP news release says investigators believe the person responsible for Bell's death is the primary suspect in the killing of at least one other victim, but that man is dead.  

Eighteen-year-old Traci Genereaux was reported missing on June 9, 2017, and her remains were found when police executed a search warrant on Curtis Sagmoen's family farm in Salmon Arm in October that year.

Police do not name Sagmoen in the news release, but say they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public as the primary suspect is dead. 

Sagmoen was reported dead in a Vernon hotel in April this year.

The release says the Southeast District Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate the deaths of both women as "additional parties to the offence have not yet been ruled out."

It is asking anyone with information about their disappearances or murders to contact the unit.

Bell's mother, Jane Aubertin, confirmed in a statement to The Canadian Press that her daughter had been found and identified. 

In the statement, the family thanked those who have supported them since Bell's disappearance and the RCMP for investigating the case, as well as volunteers who helped search for Bell and the person who reported finding her.

"We are grateful to be able to bring Nicole home," the statement said. "RIP Love you always."