Residents of British Columbia's Lower Mainland are grappling with news that another suspected killer of prostitutes has been arrested -- just weeks after Robert Pickton was convicted of killing six women.
The RCMP say a 29-year-old man has been charged with killing two Fraser Valley prostitutes, and that he may be a suspect in several other unsolved murders.
Dave Butorac was arrested in Aldergrove in B.C.'s Fraser Valley. He is accused of second-degree murder in the killing of 46-year-old Gwendolyn Lawton of Abbotsford and 50-year-old Cheryl Korroll of Langley.
Lawton's body was found on a gravel road last March, while Korroll's body was found in an industrial area in July.
"Both of the victims were preyed upon because their killer saw an opportunity to take advantage of their vulnerable lifestyles,'' RCMP said Monday in a news release.
Police are now looking for links between the suspect and other homicide cases in the Fraser Valley area east of Vancouver, including a Langley woman.
In May 2006, Margaret Redford, who also worked as a prostitute, was killed and left alongside a local creek in Aldergrove.
"We're going to be reviewing that investigation to see what, if any, evidence can be linked to Mr. Butorac," Cpl. Dale Carr with the RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigative Team told CTV British Columbia on Tuesday.
Carr said DNA evidence helped police arrest Butorac last Friday.
The Mounties say a piece of evidence moved the investigation forward. Officers obtained a warrant on Oct. 18 to search Butorac's residence and vehicle in connection with Koroll's death. DNA samples were sent for analysis and test results last month identified forensic evidence belonging to Lawton.
Police arrested Butorac on Dec. 29, but released him the following day. Police say they did not have enough evidence at the time to hold him.
Surveillance, however, continued. And last week, the Crown approved charges after additional results from forensic analysis were received and Butorac was arrested Friday.
Police have not released the suspect's photo, saying it's too early in their case.
"We're looking at him strongly for other homicides, I can't get into the evidence we have gathered," Carr told reporters.
Police are also looking for a white Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 coupe linked to the accused.
Butorac made a court appearance on Monday and has been denied bail.
With a report from CTV British Columbia Bureau Chief Todd Battis and files from The Canadian Press
