Actor Stewart McLean’s Disappearance Turns into Homicide Investigation

A close associate of Stewart McLean, known for his role in ‘Virgin River,’ suspected something was amiss on the day McLean vanished. Jeff Seymour, McLean’s acting coach, expressed his concern during an interview with The Canadian Press, noting that McLean’s absence from filming was out of character for someone so meticulous.

‘He was meticulous about everything,’ Seymour said, emphasizing the improbability of McLean simply missing a filming schedule. Upon hearing of McLean’s absence that Saturday morning, Seymour sensed immediate trouble, reflecting on McLean’s situational awareness.

The investigation into McLean’s disappearance has escalated to a homicide inquiry. Seymour, a friend of McLean for eight years, highlighted the actor’s amiable nature and emphasized his lack of involvement in any questionable activities. ‘Everybody loved this guy. He was a bit of a loner,’ Seymour remarked, noting McLean’s preference for a quiet life centered around reading and his home in Squamish.

McLean was reported missing on May 18, with the Squamish RCMP commencing a missing persons investigation. McLean was last seen at his home in Lions Bay on May 15. A press release by the Squamish RCMP indicated that investigative evidence suggests McLean was a victim of homicide.

“Squamish RCMP initiated an investigation and, through investigative efforts, uncovered evidence that led investigators to believe Mr. McLean was the victim of a homicide,” the press release stated.

On May 20, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took over the case, working alongside Squamish RCMP and the Integrated Forensic Identification Service to advance the investigation.

McLean’s remains have been discovered and identified, according to a statement from IHIT shared with CBC News. Investigators are focusing on evidence collection, CCTV footage analysis, and interviews to trace McLean’s activities before May 15.

Stewart McLean’s professional background includes appearances in widely recognized series such as Netflix’s ‘Virgin River,’ ‘Arrow,’ ‘Happy Face,’ and ‘Murder in a Small Town.’ Besides acting, McLean contributed as a producer to projects like ‘Travelers’ and ‘Beyond,’ earning commendation in the Canadian entertainment sector.