A routine traffic stop in downtown Penticton led to the arrest of high-risk sex offender Roger Badour, who has now been charged with the first-degree murder of a Princeton woman.
Police allege that Badour killed Gisele Duckham last week at her residence in the 2000 block of Osprey Lake Road in Princeton. An autopsy examination confirmed Duckham died as a result of gunshot wounds.
Victoria police have been searching for the high-risk sex offender for the past eight months, as he was last seen on April 29 in the capital city. At the time of his disappearance, he was on parole as part of a seven-year sentence for sexual assault.
When Badour moved to Victoria, police issued a warning saying he was being supervised by the Victoria Parole Office and being monitored by the Victoria Police high-risk offender officer.
In 2008, Badour also walked away from his halfway house in Vancouver, and RCMP issued a warning to those living in the Okanagan that the man could be hiding in the valley to get in touch with past family contacts that live in the area.
Badour was pulled over around 10:50 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the 100 block of Main Street in Penticton for a traffic violation. Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says Badour obstructed the officer by providing a false name, which prompted the constable to investigate further in order to establish Badour’s real identity. As a result of the stop, the officer also searched the vehicle and allegedly found a small amount of marijuana and three firearms — two of which were loaded.
Moskaluk said Badour eventually provided his correct name, and it was revealed to the officer that there was an outstanding Canada-wide warrant for the suspension of a long-term supervision order advising police agencies to arrest and detain Badour if located.
Badour has a lengthy criminal history including sexual assault with a weapon and forcible confinement, and his victims were women with mental challenges and or substance abuse problems. Victoria police told the public that he targets and befriends socially vulnerable single women. His crimes began to involve sex offences when he was in his 30s.
Moskaluk said based on the findings during the investigation, Princeton RCMP attended the residence of Duckham to check on her well-being, but they found her dead.
“This is an example of the diligent day-to-day efforts of the RCMP in carrying out their normal duties that lead to the solving of other crimes that may have gone undetected or unsolved had it not been for their diligence. In this case, the actions of the officer making the traffic stop and the attention paid to Mr. Badour by the lodging officer certainly contributed to the results of the investigation into Gisele Duckham’s death,” said Moskaluk.
Badour appeared in court on Wednesday in the Lower Mainland and remains in custody. He is set to make another court appearance on Nov. 23 in regards to the first-degree murder charge.