Autopsy of Carol Ann McPhail reveals no foul play, Kimberley BC

The Kimberley RCMP now have the results of the autopsy on 49 year old Carol Ann McPhail, which was conducted yesterday. The pathologist found no direct cause of death, but also says that it will take up to 6 weeks for results of toxicology tests to determine whether any drugs were in her system at the time of death. At this time, foul play seems unlikely, and police are being advised that this death is likely the result of exposure to the elements.

A combined investigation by the Kimberley and Cranbrook Detachments, working with members from the South East District Major Crime Unit, were able to track Ms. McPhail’s movements on February 28th, with assistance from the last person to see her alive. Ms. McPhail was traveling with another Kimberley resident, and they drove onto the St. Mary Forest Service Road, near Wycliffe, heading back to Kimberley. While on this snow covered road, the vehicle got stuck, and could not be moved. Ms. McPhail walked away from the vehicle and her companion, stating that she intended to walk out of the area. She was not seen again, until her body was located by Search and Rescue personnel on March 6th. It appeared that she had walked some 9 kilometers, through deep snow, and probably succumbed to exhaustion and hypothermia.

The male companion spent the night of February 28th in the bush, too, but was able to keep himself warm by starting a fire. He walked out of the bush in the late afternoon of March 1st. When questioned by police after Ms. McPhail’s body was recovered, he stated that he had no idea that she didn’t make it out of the bush the night that she walked away from the vehicle.

Police are now treating this death as accidental and will be turning the investigation over to the B.C. Coroner’s Office, who have been involved since the discovery of Ms. McPhail’s body.