Three men charged in Chilliwack's first homicide of 2026, killing of Kristopher Benson
Jason Himpfen, Zoltan Losier, and Christopher Meischl charged with second-degree murder for killing on Feb. 15
February 20, 2026
The Lower Mainland Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) quickly identified the suspected killers of 48-year-old Kristopher Benson in a house on Mellard Avenue on Sunday (Feb. 15, 2026).
On Wednesday night, IHIT investigators with help from the Lower Mainland Districted Integrated Emergency Response Team (ERT) arrested one man in Chilliwack and a second in Abbotsford. Then on Thursday, a third man was arrested at a residence in Chilliwack.
Charged each with one count of second-degree murder is 50-year-old Jason Himpfen, 34-year-old Zoltan Charles Losier, and 40-year-old Christopher Ian Meischl. The three accused have also been charged with one count of attempt murder in relation to the second victim.
While IHIT lists the one accused as Zoltan "Losier," he more commonly uses the surname of one of the co-accused, Meischl. He has 28 entries on CSO under Zoltan Charles Meischl but just two under Zoltan Charles Losier.
Himpfen is a long-time Lower Mainland gangster with an extensive criminal history. All three men are remanded in custody. He's been dealing drugs and involved in violent incidents for more than 20 years in the area.
In a case that dragged on for eight years, Himpfen was charged and went to trial for the murder of Mandy Johnson and the attempted murder of her boyfriend, Gater Browne on July 28, 2010, who was apparently the intended target. In a lengthy judgment in 2018 discussing positive identification of Himpfen as the killer beyond a reasonable doubt, BC Supreme Court Justice Terence Schultes reluctantly found reasonable doubt and therefore had to find Himpfen not guilty.
"[W]hile I might have been satisfied that Mr. Himpfen is probably or likely guilty, I am left with a reasonable doubt based on the matters I have identified. I find him not guilty, with my thanks to counsel for their assistance."
Himpfen is scheduled to appear in Abbotsford provincial court Friday (Feb. 20, 2026) facing the Benson murder and attempted murder charge, although he is listed as not in custody, which is likely a mistake. Meischl's file is already subject to a publication ban so cannot be searched on court services online (CSO), except that he is scheduled for a bail hearing on March 5, 2025 in Abbotsford. There is no record of a file yet connected to Losier on CSO.
Jason Himpfen (left) and Zoltan Charles (Meischl) Losier are charged with the second-degree murder of Kristopher Benson in a house on Mellard Avenue in Chilliwack on Feb. 15, 2026. A photo of the third co-accused Christopher Meischl could not be found.
“This was a fast-paced investigation and some sleepless nights for our investigators,” said Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT in a news release. “The team worked tirelessly to follow up on the evidence as the case unfolded, which led to the prompt laying of charges. We would like to thank our policing partners who supported us over the past several days to effect the swift and safe arrests of the individuals involved.”
Police investigate on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at the scene of a homicide on Mellard Avenue in Chilliwack from Sunday. Dead is 48-year-old Kristopher Benson while a second victim is in hospital in stable condition. (Paul Henderson/ photos)
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Paul J. Henderson
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