Abbotsford murder charge a reminder that destitute people have the most to fear from one another
Statistically speaking, if you don’t want to get murdered, don’t join a gang, be in a relationship, or be homeless
May 20, 2026
In a recent interview with Vancouver Kyla Lee for an episode of my new podcast (Something Worth Hearing), I was discussing two unrelated homicides that each happened to have occurred in a mobile home park.
Given that and prior conversations we have had about domestic violence and drug dealers killing one another she quipped “If you don’t want to get murdered, don’t be in a gang, don’t live in a trailer park, and don’t be in a relationship.”
I just did a very rough count of the homicides in Chilliwack over the last decade. In that unscientific estimation, 69 per cent of the homicides were connected to those unrelated categories: trailer parks, romantic partner violence, or criminal associates killing one another.
But I would add to those categories, don’t be financially destitute forced to live in precarious places. In other words, don’t be homeless.
By my count, 17 per cent of the homicides were not in one or more of those categories above. And 14 per cent of those deaths were destitute folks living on the streets or homeless adjacent, killing one another.
When people express fear of people living on the streets, the fear is somewhat understandable as homelessness most often correlates with illegal drug use and/or severe mental illness. However, random attacks by street-entrenched folks on strangers walking are exceedingly rare. When that does happen, it’s front-page news. (Pardon the anachronism. For the kids, “front page” refers to a physical product made from tree pulp and ink that people used to read.)
All of that is my long-winded way of introducing my point, that destitute people with precarious living arrangements have the most to fear from their peers.
This was hammered home to me yesterday when I saw the first sentence of a news release in my inbox from the Lower Mainland Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announcing first-degree murder charges laid against a man alleged to have been involved in an arson and a murder at a homeless encampment.
I immediately though to myself, “ah yes, that’s good, charges laid in the March murder of that 69-year-old man at the Whatcom Road park-and-ride encampment.”
I opened a file to write a follow-up story about those charges and that incident and actually read the statement that mentioned South Fraser Way and April and 47-year-old victim.
Wait, what?
There was an arson and a murder at two different homeless encampments in Abbotsford within a month.
Talk about a dangerous, if unwanted, lifestyle.
Two deaths, two fires, one man charged
The two cases are obviously unrelated but to summarize since you’ve read this far.
Firstly, on March 23, 2026, a 69-year-old man was shot and killed at the Whatcom Road Park & Ride camper/RV encampment on Highway 1. Three days later, a fire destroyed on of the campers in the encampment, which is to say that a link has not been made public regarding the homicide and the blaze and could be coincidental. No one has been charged.
Secondly, on April 24, 2026, at approximately 6 p.m., Abbotsford police officers responded to a report of a fire at the Peardonville encampment in the 31500-block of South Fraser Way, Abbotsford.
A single wooden structure was destroyed and after Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service put out the fire, a man was found dead inside.
A 49-year-old man, Ryan Easton, was arrested and taken into custody. The next day he was charged with one count of manslaughter.
IHIT continued to investigate and as a result, on May 14, Crown counsel upgraded the charged to first-degree murder.
Easton was also charged with one count of arson to a structure knowing or being reckless of the fact that the structure was occupied.
“We strive to collect the best evidence available rather than just sufficient evidence, and this case is a good example where our continued efforts led to upgraded charges,” said IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Freda Fong in the release. “IHIT continues to offer its support to those impacted by this incident.”
And, further to my point, this: “Investigators believe this to be an isolated incident where parties were known to each other.”
Anyone with information about these or any homicides is always asked to call and leave info at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
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Paul J. Henderson
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