PORT ALBERNI, B.C. — Police say two people are charged with first-degree murder in the death of a six-year-old boy in Port Alberni, B.C., in 2018.
RCMP say they arrested 28-year-old Rykel Frank and 29-year-old Mitchell Frank on Friday.
Police say six-year-old Dontay Lucas was found dead on March 13, 2018.
Insp. Eric Rochette says in a news release Saturday that such investigations are difficult for everyone involved, and he understands that the time taken to get to this point in the case has been challenging for the community.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council identified Rykel Frank as Dontay's mother and Mitchell Frank as his stepfather, and thanked the RCMP for their work, saying it is a "huge relief" that charges were laid.
Judith Sayers, president of the council, however called out the justice system saying it has to do better and the family has a long wait ahead for the trial to begin.
"The death of any person is very sad, but it is even sadder when it is a young child with their whole life ahead of them," she says in a statement.
Police gave no other details, but say the investigation continues and a news conference will be held Monday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2022.
The Canadian Press
