One of the four men accused in a deadly kidnapping in North Vancouver is now charged with first-degree murder, homicide investigators announced Wednesday.
The murder count was approved against Tian Yi Zhang, a 23-year-old Richmond resident who was previously charged with kidnapping and indignity to a body in the case.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said Zhang appeared in court Tuesday and has been remanded into custody.
The victim, Peng Sun, was allegedly kidnapped for ransom in on Sept. 27. His body was found two days later along with a luxury car in an area near Wellington Avenue.
What happened during that time remains a mystery.
On top of Zhang, three other suspects – Casey James Hiscoe, 21, Dyllan James Green, 20, and Jacob Michael Gorelik, 18 – have all been charged with interfering with a dead body.
Hiscoe is also charged with kidnapping.
IHIT said the investigation spanned multiple jurisdictions throughout the Lower Mainland and involved multiple police forces.
The Chinese consulate in Vancouver also confirmed to CTV News that officials are cooperating with the probe.