UPDATED: RCMP confirm, body found in Slocan is Daniel Crossley
By Bruce Fuhr
Police have now confirmed that a body suspected to be that of a missing Slocan 18-year-old is, indeed, Daniel Crossley.
In a press release issued at 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, RCMP Sgt. Darryl Little said, “The RCMP are now able to confirm the identity of the body recovered from the lake near Slocan City as that of Daniel Crossley, who was reported missing on April 23.
“The RCMP dive team was able to successfully recover Daniel at approximately 9:30 this morning. The BC Coroner’s Department will be conducting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death. Foul play is not suspected. Police would like to thank everyone who provided information in this tragic event.”
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An RCMP dive team is in Slocan Thursday to recover the body of from the waters near the Springer Creek Sawmill.
The body is believed to be missing teenager Daniel Crossley, last seen near his Slocan home eight days ago, on April 23.
Police will not confirm the identity until an autopsy by the BC Coroners is completed, but they’ve said they have no reason to view the death as suspicious at this time.
“The RCMP came to our house at 2 p.m. (Wednesday) and told us a body had been found near the mill,” father Dean Crossley told The Nelson Daily Thursday.
“Police don’t generally do that until it’s actually confirmed but they’re pretty sure it’s Daniel.”
“We won’t know what happened until a special dive team arrives to remove the body and an autopsy is performed to determine the cause of death,” Dean Crossley added.
RCMP Sgt. Darryl Little said the Springer Creek Mill manager was inspecting the property between 10:30-11 a.m. Tuesday and found the body.
He quickly contacted the RCMP.
“They called us in, but because of the location of the remains, we couldn’t get to them,” Sgt. Little said, adding they can’t confirm with certainty that it’s Crossley, or even male or female, until the identification process is complete.
“There are dive teams there right now, and the Coroner’s department will take over from there.”
Daniel Crossley was last seen in the evening of (Tuesday) April 23 heading in the general direction of the “Rails to Trail” pathway.
After he was reported missing, the area was searched with negative results.
Saturday, April 27, a group of people in the community conducted a door-to-door search, which also proved unsuccessful.
A number of abandoned mines and cabins in the area were also searched.
“It was not like Daniel to wander off like this . . . it was totally out of character, so we don’t believe he would do any self-harm to himself,” Dean Crossely said.
Daniel Crossley, 18, is the fourth of four boys — Jonathan, 20, David, 22 and Steven, 24 — in the family of Dean and Antonia Crossley.
“He was just an amazing kid in terms of math and science, bordering on being gifted,” lamented Dean Crossley, who home-schooled his son. “Daniel had enough credits to graduate but wanted to take more courses and had applied to several eastern universities to study chemical engineering.”
Daniel Crossley worked part time at the family-owned Harold Street Café in Slocan City.
He was a member of the Kootenay Christian Taekwondo School where he attained a black belt and also enjoyed golf.
“All of our family is very close and our Christian faith is what is holding us together during this time of a storm,” Dean Crossley expressed.
“Our faith is a very important part of our life.”
The family said memorial services have not yet been scheduled, but will be held at Junction Covenant Church, where the family has long-term ties.
– With files from The Trail Champion
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