News release

Three people charged in relation to Dawson Creek homicide

February 1, 2026 - Dawson Creek, British Columbia
From: Dawson Creek RCMP

Content

File: 2024-74

Charges have been laid against three people in relation to a homicide that occurred in Dawson Creek in 2023.

On Sunday, December 31, 2023, Dawson Creek RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle at 17th Street and 116th Avenue. When officers arrived, they located a deceased male, later identified as 37-year-old Robert Eric Douglas Girbav, inside a red Dodge Calibre.

The BC RCMP North District Major Crime Unit (NDMCU) took conduct of the investigation and on Saturday, January 31, 2026, NDMCU coordinated arrests in BC and Alberta. 

The BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against each of the following individuals in relation to Girbav’s homicide: 

• Tanner Allan Murray, 31
• Robert James Sinclair, 34
• Benjamin James Elliott Touchette, 36

The three men were arrested without incident as they were already in custody for unrelated matters. 

Investigators believe the accused and the victim were known to each other.

“We acknowledge that the loss of Mr. Girbav was felt widely and contributed to ongoing community concerns regarding crime and violence in the Dawson Creek Area,” said Supt. Sanjaya Wijayakoon, with the BC RCMP Major Crime Unit. 

“This has been a complex investigation led by NDMCU and charge approval reflects the collective work of many teams, including Dawson Creek RCMP, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), the Major Crime Interview Team, and Forensic Identification Services,” he added. “We want to assure our community that we remain committed and dedicated to advancing our investigations into incidents that are impacting the Peace Region.”

Contacts