RCMP make arrest in Irving murder

Kelowna RCMP have made an arrest in the murder of Brittney Irving.

At a press conference Monday morning, Constable Steve Holmes announced the arrest of 29-year-old Joelon David Atish Verma.

“The arrest was made on June 25 in Rutland. He was brought before a Justice and remanded into custody. Verma is facing a charge of first degree murder and charge of robbery,” says Holmes.

He says Verma will appear in court Monday and is well known to police but has no prior criminal record.

“The bulk of this investigation involved following up on leads and a collection of evidence and information gathered since the time of Brittney's disappearance. The investigation is still ongoing. Because the the structure of the investigation and the evidence contained therein will be imminently tested by the court process, it is vital that its integrity not be compromised beforehand.”

Holmes says there will be little info released at this time.

“Brittney was first reported missing on April 7 of this year. What police can say at this time is evidence acquired suggests Brittney was in possession of a large amount of marijuana on April 6 and that she planned to meet with the accused the next day to sell the marijuana.”

He says her SUV was found shortly after on Philpott Road in the Joe Rich area.

Holmes says Irving's body was discovered in late April in an area that was not in the vicinity of where her SUV was found.

He says they will not divulge where her body was found or the cause of death.