Skip to content

Vancouver police identify murder victim whose remains were found floating in a recycling bin

Vancouver resident Douglas Wanke's suspicious death – with remains left floating in a recycling bin set off at sea – marks the city's 15th homicide of 2020
recycling bins

Human remains that were found inside of a large blue recycling bin off the waters of Kits Point this month have been identified.

Police say they are 57-year-old Vancouver resident Douglas Wanke's, whose suspicious death marks the city's 15th homicide of 2020.

"The VPD’s major crime section is continuing to investigate Mr. Wanke’s murder," said Cst. Tania Visintin, of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

Initially, police and BC Coroner's Service members accompanied coast guard crews shortly after 11 a.m. Oct. 18 to examine the discovered remains.

Once they were confirmed to be of human origin, police put out a public call to residents and property managers in Vancouver.

“Check [your] recycling and garbage rooms to see if any large, blue, wheeled recycling containers are missing,” asked Cst. Tania Visintin, on behalf of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

Anyone with information about Wanke's death is asked to call homicide detectives at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.