West Shore RCMP discovered  Martin Payne, 60, deceased in his home in 1000 block of Brookview Drive, Metchosin after he didn’t show up for work on July 12th.

RCMP said the death of Payne is suspicious and foul play is suspected. The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is leading the investigation.

Police said the victim’s red Ford F150 pickup truck British Columbia license plate 7432HY was found parked on Woodburn Avenue, Oak Bay on July 9th. Anyone who may have seen the victim’s truck between the afternoon of July 8th and July 9th at 1:00 p.m is asked to contact the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit information line at 250-380-6211.

Update June 14th, 2020
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage, who escaped from William Head Institution on southern Vancouver Island last year have been arrested and both have been charged with first-degree murder in relation to the death of Martin Payne, 60.

Update December 15th 2022
The trial began on Nov. 14, 2022 with both men pleading not guilty to first-degree murder, however, two weeks later, Armitage entered a guilty plea without the jury present.

On December 14th 2022 the jury found James Lee Busch guilty of the first-degree.