A house fire in Coquitlam that took the lives of two people last week is being called a murder/suicide by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
Investigators say they believe Benyoucef Assen killed his wife Agnes before setting fire to the home. Police said the evidence suggests that he died in the subsequent blaze.
"The findings of this investigation are tragic and weigh heavy on the family," IHIT spokesperson Jennifer Pound said in a press release. "To protect the privacy and well-being of the family and friends, no further information will be released."
Residents of the Coquitlam neighbourhood were in shock last week after a blaze broke out at the home, on Cottonwood Avenue near Como Lake Park.
The two bodies were found by firefighters and attempts to revive them were unsuccessful. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
The property was home to a daycare facility and had been recently sold. According to CTV News, neighbours reported hearing a scream and a loud bang before the fire broke out.
