The remains of Canadian actor Stewart McLean, best known for his role in Netflix’s Virgin River, were found in Lions Bay, British Columbia on Friday, May 22. He was 45 years old. Police are investigating his death as murder.
‘I knew there was big trouble’: What did his friend say?
Acting coach Jeff Seymour, who lives in Los Angeles, had known McLean for about eight years. he told canadian press It was completely out of character for the actor to not shoot. Seymour told The Canadian Press, “He was meticulous about everything and there was no chance he would forget it or sleep in too late. As soon as I heard he didn’t turn up Saturday morning, I knew there was big trouble.”
Seymour said he became “fast friends” with McLean when the actor attended one of his coaching sessions eight years ago and that McLean visited him in Los Angeles just last month. He said, “We had the best time of our lives. It was really an amazing week, and then I heard this, and it’s just, it’s so hard to understand when something like that happens.” “It doesn’t make any sense. He was incredibly aware of the situation.”
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Seymour described McLean as a “straight arrow” and said he could not understand how anyone could harm him. “I bring it up because for the life of me, I don’t know how anyone can get a drop on the stew,” he told The Canadian Press. He added: “Everyone loved this guy, it wasn’t like he was into nefarious activities or, you know, running around with another crowd. I mean, he was a bit of a loner. He spent a lot of time reading and staying at his house in Squamish.” Seymour said that this defeat had a deep impact on him. “It’s so crushing, and it affects me in a way that I would suddenly think, Ah, Stu, and I realize I can’t call him anymore. It’s just a shock. I would love to see justice served.”
What happened?
According to this, McLean was last seen at his home in Lions Bay on May 15, 2026 Independent. On May 18, a missing person’s report was filed with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Squamish. Two days later, on May 20, the case was handed over to Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) after investigators found evidence that she had been killed.
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Lions Bay Search and Rescue said in a social media post that search operations began Wednesday “throughout the Lions Bay area, including Crystal Falls, Tunnel Point, Brunswick Beach, Magnesia Creek and surrounding drainages.” The post said: “During the operation, search teams located suspicious evidence and immediately transferred the investigation back to Squamish RCMP for further investigation.”
IHIT confirmed that McLean’s remains were found during the search and his death is believed to be a homicide. In a statement to The Independent, IHIT’s Cpl Esther Tupper said: “As the investigation progresses, homicide investigators are working to collect and analyze evidence, review CCTV footage and conduct interviews to create a timeline of Mr McLean’s activities before May 15, 2026. We are pursuing all available leads as we work to find answers for Mr McLean’s family, friends and loved ones. Are.”