㽶Ƶֱ

Skip to content

Double-homicide near Chilliwack called 㽶Ƶֱisolated incident between neighbours㽶Ƶֱ

IHIT IDs 2 victims in attempt to advance murder investigation in strata trailer park
33910094_web1_230915-CPL-Double-Murder-Folo-PUSH-victims_1
John Kavaloff, 58, and 67-year old Valerie Smith of Chilliwack were the victims of a double homicide on Sept. 14, 2023. Suspect 83-year-old Robert Freeman of Chilliwack was charged with two counts of second-degree murder. (RCMP handout)

Investigators with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) are calling the double-homicide on Chilliwack Lake Road an 㽶Ƶֱisolated incident between neighbours.㽶Ƶֱ

Police stated soon after the shootings that there was no risk to public safety.

Both the 83-year-old murder suspect and the two victims found dead in a residence in a strata trailer park Sept. 13 on Chilliwack Lake Road.

The two deceased were identified as John Kavaloff, 58, and Valerie Smith, 67 of Chilliwack. IHIT officials said they are releasing the names 㽶Ƶֱin the hopes of advancing the investigation.㽶Ƶֱ

On September 14, 2023, the suspect, now identified as 83-year old Robert Freeman of Chilliwack, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder.

It is not clear yet what the motive was for the shootings.

㽶ƵֱThis appears to be an isolated incident between neighbours,㽶Ƶֱ says IHIT spokesman Sgt. Timothy Pierotti. 㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱre asking anyone with information regarding this incident, to please contact IHIT immediately.㽶Ƶֱ

IHIT is asking any witnesses to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

The murder suspect Robert Freeman named in this investigation bears the same name as former Chilliwack Progress reporter Robert Freeman, who passed away in 2019 in Ontario.

RELATED:

Breaking News You Need To Know

Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up


Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering city hall, Indigenous, business, and climate change stories.
Read more



(or

㽶Ƶֱ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }