Pemberton Music Festival homicide investigation: Regina resident Nick Phongsavath, 21, ID'd as man found dead
Police have identified the man found dead in the campground at the Pemberton Music Festival as 21-year-old Nick Phongsavath of Regina, Sask.
The Lower Mainland's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team took over the case Friday night after local RCMP felt the circumstances surrounding Phongsavath's death were suspicious.
The 21-year-old was found dead near a row of portable toilets late Friday afternoon. Investigators said Saturday morning that they had not confirmed the cause of the man's death, or if it was foul play.
IHIT initially withheld his identity, as investigators were having trouble locating his next-of-kin, and as news of a suspicious death began to spread panic in the wider community, investigators issued a request through Twitter, asking festival-goers to get in touch with their families to let them know they are OK.
Investigators are asking anyone with any information on the suspicious death to call IHIT at 1-877-551-4448.
Some of those camping at the festival say the campground has become an eerie place, with police tape surrounding a large area near the row of portable toilets where Phonsavath's body was found.
Festival goer ReutAmit, who was camping across from the apparent crime scene, told CBC News a group of festival-goers first discovered the man's body, and tried to keep others away until police arrived.
"Our tent is facing the port-a-potties, so we were sitting at our campsite and people were still using the washroom," she said. "It looked like a group of people were sort of blocking off this one port-a-potty and telling people not to go in."
"When police arrived, they cordoned off a small area at first.... And then, eventually, they cordoned off a much larger area and then the entire set of washrooms couldn't be used."
Police later brought in a mobile command centre, and festival security told some of the campers that the area, which is between the Alberta and Saskatchewan camping areas, would remain cordoned-off all weekend.
Festival organizers said they would be asking Pemberton Fire and Rescue to help campers near the possible crime scene in relocating their tents and belongings.
This year's Pemberton Music Festival features nearly 100 acts and predicted an attendance of 25,000 people.
The organizers from New Orleans, HUKA Entertainment, said they spent millions on improvements after a previous incarnation by another promoter in 2008 was marred by traffic jams, irritating dust and filthy portable toilets.
