Charges have been laid in connection with men in a number of Lower Mainland cities, including Burnaby, being drugged and having their belongings stolen while using an escort service.
Surrey RCMP launched an investigation in September 2021 after frontline officers linked the drugging reports, including one in February 2021 where a man died after allegedly being administered a substance during an encounter, according to a police news release Thursday.
The investigation was “multijurisdictional and complex,” involving alleged offences in Burnaby, Surrey, Langley and Vancouver, according to police.
On Sept. 20, Surrey RCMP arrested Vancouver resident Jessica Nicole Renee Kane, 30.
She has now been charged with manslaughter, seven counts of administering a stupefying or overpowering drug or substance, six counts of theft over $5,000, one count of theft, four counts of fraud and two counts of extortion.
One pair of drugging and theft-over-$5,000 charges was related to an incident in Burnaby on June 19, according to court records.
Investigators believe there may be others in the community with information who are “reluctant to come forward to police,” according to the release.
“We are encouraging anyone with information to come forward and make a police report with the Surrey RCMP serious crime unit.” Surrey RCMP media relations officer, Cpl. Vanessa Munn said in the release.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
Kane is in custody. She is scheduled to appear in Surrey Provincial Court today, Oct. 13.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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