Man charged with Pitt Meadows murder
RCMP have arrested and charged a man in connection with the murder of Maple Ridge resident Brandon Howson.
Adam Deboo, 33, was taken into custody on Saturday on Highway 1 near Spences Bridge.
Police allege Deboo killed 26-year-old Howson on Jan. 31 in Pitt Meadows. Howson's body was discovered by a passerby around 10:30 a.m., lying face down in a cranberry field at the end of 224th Street, by 144th Avenue.
Deboo, a resident of Maple Ridge, has been charged with second-degree murder.
"The body of Brandon was found on January 31st and four days later we have a suspect arrested and charged with murder," said Sgt. Jennifer Pound with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
"This was not a black and white case. This was an investigation where long hours and dedication by investigators led them to a suspect."
IHIT investigators worked closely with the Lytton and Ashcroft RCMP detachments who assisted in the arrest.
"The lines of communication between police departments have been an exemplary show of unity. It doesn't matter what jurisdiction you end up in, if the evidence leads to you, the police will find you", added Pound.
Howson was known to police and awaiting a trial on drug trafficking charges at the time of his death.
An autopsy was conducted on Howson which revealed he was attacked with an "edged weapon."
"Many of the details of the investigation are now before the courts and those details will not be released so as to protect the integrity of the investigation," said Pound.
Deboo appeared in Port Coquitlam Provincial Court on Monday and has been detained. His next court appearance is set for 13 Feb.
Deboo had just been charged with two counts of assault causing bodily harm and one of assault in connection with incidents in Mission on Jan. 12, Jan. 17 and Jan. 18.
He also faces one count of breaching bail and obstructing a peace office in Spences Bridge on Feb. 3.
Deboo pleaded guilty in 2009 to a charge of inflicting injury on a person and received a $1,000 fine and a year-long recognizance.
He was also charged with assault in 2004 for an incident in Squamish. He pleaded guilty and received a $500 and year-long peace bond.
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