Murder charge approved in woman’s death

Charges have been upgraded in the death of a woman in a Sicamous mobile home park.

The RCMP responded to a report of an unresponsive female in a driveway at a property at 1707 Hillier Rd. at 4:48 a.m. Wednesday, June 19.

Paramedics were already at the scene when officers arrived, but despite their efforts to provide medical assistance to the victim, the woman, since identified as 66-year-old Jo Ann Jackson, was declared deceased.

A male suspect was arrested at the scene.

The Southeast Major Crime Unit took over the investigation on June 20, and the man was released from police custody on a number of orders, including to not return to the subject property, as police investigated the case. At that time, police had said the man was facing a charge of manslaughter

On Monday, June 24, the B.C. Prosecution Service approved a charge of second degree murder against 37-year-old Scott Keith McDonald of Sicamous in the death of Jackson, and he was arrested without incident that same day.

“The securing of charge approval was the culmination of the tireless efforts involving investigators from the Southeast District Major Crime Unit, BC RCMP Forensic Identification Services, Support Services, the Sicamous RCMP and Salmon Arm RCMP,” Southeast District Senior Investigating Officer, Inspector Brent Novakoski, stated.

McDonald was remanded in custody pending an application for bail hearing. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 2 at Salmon Arm provincial court.