INUVIK
Inuvik RCMP officers were tight-lipped Thursday as they investigated the discovery of a man's body in a residence on Wolverine Road.
Police were called to the scene about 4:45 p.m. April 17, according to a news release.
This home in Inuvik was cordoned off at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday as the RCMP investigated what they are calling a suspicious death. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
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While the police weren't talking, the neighbours were.
Greg Stromgren said he received a call from the man's landlord just about the time the police and ambulance arrived.
Stromgren said the landlord, Dennis Condit, had discovered the body of the tenant lying on the floor beside his bed.
Stromgren identified the man as Steve Stachowiak, a local gas inspector for the GNWT Public Works and Services.
The RCMP have yet to make a formal identification but did confirm the deceased was 55 years old and originally from Ontario.
"I've known him for about two years," Stromgren said from his home two doors away. "We often had coffee together."
He said Stachowiak was a private man who lived alone in Inuvik. Stromgren said he believed Stachowiak still owned a house in Ontario where his spouse lived, but wasn't sure of the location.
Brian Turner, another local resident who knew Stachowiak, said he was almost a "loner." He also expressed surprise at his death.
"I'm guessing he's in his mid-50s or so, but that's something I never got out of him," Stromgren said.
"He was a real smart guy."
He said he was asked by the RCMP to have a look at the house to see if there was anything obviously missing or out of place as they began their investigation.
Stromgren said nothing was out of place in the home, except for the bed, which was lying askew. That was most unusual for a man he described as meticulous in his ways.
They last had coffee together at the Inuvik hospital on the morning of April 12, Stromgren said.
Stachowiak was planning on working in Aklavik for the week, and Stromgren hadn't seen him since April 12.
He said he found it odd that Stachowiak's truck still had the block heater plugged in, but didn't think anything of it until his body was discovered.
"I just thought he had forgotten about it when he took the work truck to Aklavik, but that was unusual."
Stromgren said he spent 90 minutes at the RCMP detachment on the morning of April 18 trying to find out more details. He wasn't aware the police had declared it a suspicious death until told by News/North.
Police are asking members of the public to come forward if they have any information that might help with the investigation.
- with files from Laura Busch
