Burnaby BC 2026 Homicide Victim List
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is asking for the public’s assistance as it continues to investigate the suspicious disappearance of Masood Masjoody in Burnaby, British Columbia.
On the evening of February 2, 2026, Burnaby RCMP began looking into the whereabouts of 45-year-old Masood Masjoody after neighbours reported concerns about his absence. Early findings indicated that his disappearance was highly unusual and suggested the involvement of criminal activity.
Due to the nature of the case, IHIT was deployed and has since taken over the investigation.
Investigators are now focused on uncovering the circumstances surrounding Mr. Masjoody’s disappearance and are urging anyone who knew him to come forward. Police have stated that, at this stage, there is no evidence linking the case to gang activity or extortion.
“This was not a random disappearance,” said Sgt. Freda Fong of IHIT. “We believe there are family members or friends who may have critical information and have not yet spoken to investigators. Their cooperation is essential to helping us build a complete timeline.”
Investigation Update – February 5, 2026
IHIT continues to work closely with the Burnaby RCMP and Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS) as search efforts remain ongoing. To further advance the investigation, police have released a photograph of Mr. Masjoody.
“Mr. Masjoody is known for his online presence and his background as a mathematician with previous experience in academia,” Sgt. Fong explained. “As with all IHIT cases, a person’s lifestyle, history, and associations are carefully examined as part of determining potential motive.”
Investigators have also acknowledged the significant emotional impact this disappearance has had on Mr. Masjoody’s family, friends, and the broader community. Updates are being shared with the family as new information becomes available.
According to the Guardian, Masjoody was known for outspoken criticism of Iran’s ruling system and other political factions in the Iranian opposition. Activists fear his disappearance may reflect a broader effort by Tehran to intimidate or silence critics living abroad. Some members of the Iranian diaspora say the case fits a pattern of increasing pressure on dissidents outside the country.
At the same time, Masjoody had a controversial personal history. After earning his doctorate at Simon Fraser University and teaching there, he was dismissed in 2020 following disputes with colleagues and allegations of misconduct. He later filed several lawsuits against the university, media outlets, and individuals in the Iranian community, many of which were rejected by the courts.
Despite these controversies, Masjoody had repeatedly warned Canadian officials about what he believed was Iranian government influence in Canadian institutions and research sectors.
Police say many tips in the investigation have come from members of the Iranian community, but they have not identified suspects and caution that it is too early to conclude whether the Iranian government was involved.
Update: According to investigators, 48-year-old Mehdi Ahmadzadeh Razavi of Maple Ridge and 45-year-old Arezou Soltani of North Vancouver were charged on March 14th in the killing.
After several weeks of searching, investigators located Masjoody’s remains in Mission on March 6 with assistance from multiple specialized police units and search-and-rescue teams.
Authorities say the victim and the two accused knew each other, but the motive behind the killing is still under investigation. Police have not released details about exactly where the remains were found.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.