The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced the development at a news conference on Saturday. Gary Losch, who is in his 60s, was arrested on Friday and remains in custody. Police said Saturday that Los was known to police.
Investigators have not released details about the young woman’s murder, but said Los had hired Gauthier to work for Himun before she disappeared.
“He had a marijuana growing business in that area and he had hired Ms. Gauthier to go cut marijuana plants,” said Sgt. Tim Pierotti with IHIT.
Pierotti says the grow op was located near where Gauthier’s body was found.
A photo released by the Homicide Investigation Team shows Gary Loss, who has been charged with second-degree murder.
Gauthier was 22 when she was last seen on the morning of July 27, 2017. She was in the parking lot of a McDonald’s in Abbotsford, according to police reports at the time of her disappearance. Police did not say if she was with anyone else. She was reported missing on July 30 and her body was discovered just over two weeks later in Mission.
Friends and family of Gauthier attended today’s press conference held outside the Abbotsford Police Station. Some expressed frustration at the time it took to make an arrest and bring charges.
“We all knew his character. He had threatened a friend of ours. It was just a lot of things pointing at him,” said Jayden Silvester, Chelsea’s friend.
Losch is next in court Sept. 16 in Abbotsford.
