Man arrested in Zeballos girl's murder
The man charged with murdering a 13-year-old Vancouver Island girl last month will make his first appearance in court in Courtenay on Monday.
Kayla John's body was found in a wooded area near her home in Zeballos on April 27
 Kayla John |
- FROM APRIL 28, 2004: Missing teen found dead
Twenty-one-year-old George Osmond, who now faces a charge of first-degree murder, was a friend of dead girl's family.
He had told a newspaper that he had been drinking with Kayla's mom at the family's trailer on the night before the girl disappeared.
The next day, Osmond and a local teen mowed the John's lawn not far from the spot where Kayla's body was found a short time later.
Osmond grew up in Zeballos, but moved to Courtenay a few years ago. He returned to the tiny community last month.
The RCMP says Osmond's arrest was the result of an investigation involving 12 officers and tips from Zeballos residents.
Zeballos Mayor Cliff Pederson says many parents were relieved to hear the investigation had led to an arrest.
"I think everybody was concerned about their kids and other young kids in the community that we didn't know who was responsible, or where the person came from."
But he says news that the murder suspect is from Zeballos has devastated the village. "We already suffered the one blow. Now we have another one."