Woman murdered in her home

Screams and cries for help from house on Frobisher Drive

A chilling scream and desperate cries for help shattered the serenity of a Frobisher Drive neighbourhood in Seafair Wednesday.

An Asian woman in her early 50s as well as her daughter, who was in in her early 30s, died as a result of violence that occurred in a house at 7900 Frobisher Dr., just east of No. 1 and Blundell roads.

Their names have not been released by police, but that could happen in the coming days.

Police responded to a 911 call around noon from a resident who lives near the house. Now investigators want to know everything that neighbours or visitors to the area saw shortly before noon and immediately afterward.

Police aren’t saying whether this was a home invasion or what precipitated the violence.

Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen would only confirm that two women had died.

A man, who described himself to reporters at the scene as Bryce Meng, said his parents live in the home and that he was worried about their safety. He had been unable to contact them, and his calls to the house went unanswered.

Thiessen confirmed that Meng is a family member of one of the people associated to the home, but wouldn't say whether he is the son or brother or grandchild of the two victims.

Thiessen said about four dozen police officers are currently working on this case.

He described what greeted police as an “extremely violent scene that does involve blood.”

The newly-formed Integrated Homicide Invesigation Team is taking over the investigation because of the resources they have available to them, Thiessen said, adding that local investigators will be working with them.

According to the city's property tax records, the home is registered to a Wei Z. Meng and Ai J. Li. Calls to the Frobisher Drive home went unanswered.

Thiessen said about four dozen police officers are working on this case.

The newly-formed Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is taking over the investigation because of the resources they have available to them, Thiessen said, adding that local investigators will be working with them.

Many neighbours who were home at the time of the incident said they heard screaming and someone's cries for help.

"I heard a loud scream, and that's about it," said one man, who said he looked outside the front of his house and saw nothing unusual.

One neighbour said the people who live in that home moved in only about six months ago. Judging by their dialect, the family appears to be from Mainland China, he said.

But another neighbour said she believes the family is from Taiwan, based on the type of cigarettes one of the men living in the home was smoking.

Officers cordoned off the area while investigators went door to door looking for information or witnesses.

Richmond RCMP Supt. Ward Clapham and some of his most senior officers attended the scene for a briefing.

There were a number of plainclothes officers at the scene also, as well as the RCMP's forensic team, clad in white overalls.

Police warned residents in the area to be vigilant as they have not determined whether this was a random or planned incident.

Anyone with information about the incident, or who might have seen strange cars or people around noon at the intersection of Frobisher and Magellan Place, is asked to call the Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212.