Amber Culley and Mimi Kates were Chilliwack homicide victims

Chilliwack homicide victim Amber Culley. Photo: IHIT

THE Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on Tuesday announced that 43-year-old Amber Culley and 49-year-old Mimi Kates were the homicide victims of the July 21 shooting incident in Chilliwack in efforts to identify witnesses and associates.

On July 21 at 11 a.m., the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment RCMP (UFVRD) responded to a report of two women and a man suffering from gunshot wounds at a residence in the 9700-block of McNaught Drive in Chilliwack. The two women succumbed to their injuries, while the man was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

IHIT took conduct of the investigation and identified the suspect as 50-year-old Eric John Shestalo. The suspect and victims were known to each other. A search for Eric Shestalo and his red Jeep YJ then ensued.

On July 22, Shestalo’s red Jeep YJ was located in the area of Bridal Falls, east of Chilliwack. IHIT investigators, supported by the UFVRD Detachment, the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team (ERT), RCMP Air One, the Integrated Police Dog Services (IPDS) and the Integrated Tactical Support Group conducted an intensive search for Shestalo.

Eric John Shestalo

On July 25, Shestalo was located deceased near Bridal Falls. The preliminary findings are that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An autopsy is pending and the investigation is continuing.

Amber Culley’s family said in a statement:

“She was the most loving, generous, compassionate & brave human being we have ever known. We will miss her madly but we will never let a murderer put out her bright light or destroy our little boys lives. Her children were her world.

“We wish to thank our extended family, friends & beautiful humans in the Lower Mainland and around the World for the outpouring of LOVE which is beyond proof of her worth.

“We wish to thank IHIT, the RCMP and Victims Services, who have worked 24/7 for the past 4 days to find her perpetrator and have shown us priceless love & respect.”

The family of both victims has asked for privacy in their time of loss and grieving.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.