A person of interest in Wednesday’s death of Gabriola Island resident Elaine Schwartz, 50, and an assault on her 18-year-old son, Trevor Schwartz, is in custody.
Jason Daniel Cramer, 37, was arrested Thursday morning by RCMP Emergency Response Team members and remains in custody at the Gabriola RCMP detachment. Cramer was the focus of a manhunt on the island after police and B.C. paramedics were called to a residence on Harrison Way around 5 p.m. Wednesday after the discovery of the woman's body.
Her son was found severely injured in a separate residence on the property. He was treated at scene then airlifted to Victoria General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. His condition was later upgraded to stable.
Penny Hawley, an Gabriola resident, said police presence was heavy Thursday morning.
“They were everywhere,” she said. “Before we could even get in the ferry lineup we were pulled over. Cops were out in a boat in the harbour and they were checking foot passengers as well.”
She said while island residents didn’t seem particularly afraid, the atmosphere was subdued on the ferry ride to Nanaimo.
The RCMP Emergency Response Team, police dog services, Nanaimo forensics unit, West Coast Marine Services and general duty officers from Gabriola and Nanaimo assisted in the investigation, which has been turned over to the Vancouver Island Major Crimes Unit.