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Vancouver police find body of missing Japanese woman, man arrested

Natsumi Kogawa was reported missing on September 12
Natsumi Kogawa was reported missing on September 12

VANCOUVER, CANADA (TR) – Police here have arrested a 48-year-old man after the body of a missing Japanese woman was found inside a mansion two days ago, reports Global News (Sept. 30).

The Burnaby Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that a body found at the historic Gabriola Mansion on Wednesday evening is that of Natsumi Kogawa, 30, who was reported missing earlier this month.

On Thursday, police announced the arrest of William Victor Schneider on charges of indignity to a human body.

Police confirmed that Schneider is the same person shown in security camera footage released on Tuesday. The footage, taken at around 1:30 p.m. on September 8, shows Kogawa talking to a man wearing a black jacket, jeans and a baseball cap.

Kogawa, a native of Aomori Prefecture, had been studying in Vancouver since May. She was last seen in the downtown part of Vancouver on September 7. A friend was last able to contact her via the smartphone application Line on September 8 at around 11:20 a.m. Four days later, a missing persons report was filed with police.

Gabriola Mansion was built by a sugar magnate in 1900. The building, which is currently vacant, has housed restaurants and apartments over the past century, according to CBC News (Sept. 29).