Community Safety Alert: Two Charged with First-Degree Murder in Burnaby IHIT Investigation

Overview of the Incident

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has laid first-degree murder charges against two individuals following the disappearance and death of 45-year-old Masood Masjoody, who was first reported missing from his residence in Burnaby, British Columbia on the evening of February 2, 2026. Concerned neighbours contacted Burnaby RCMP, and early investigative work indicated that Mr. Masjoody’s sudden disappearance was highly unusual and involved suspected criminal activity.

IHIT subsequently took over the file, working closely with Burnaby RCMP and specialized support units to reconstruct Mr. Masjoody’s movements and circumstances before he went missing. Evidence gathered in the weeks that followed led investigators to believe that he had been the victim of a homicide. Extensive search efforts across multiple locations ultimately resulted in the discovery of his remains in Mission, B.C. on March 6, 2026, confirming the worst fears of investigators and the community.

Official RCMP and IHIT Details

According to IHIT File #2026-151, a targeted homicide investigation was launched once initial indicators pointed to foul play in Mr. Masjoody’s disappearance. Numerous investigative avenues were pursued, supported by several integrated policing teams, to locate the victim and identify those allegedly responsible.

Following coordinated search operations in the Mission area and other locations of interest, police located the remains of Mr. Masjoody on March 6, 2026. Investigators then advanced the case to the point where arrests and criminal charges could be recommended and approved.

• Victim: 45-year-old Masood Masjoody
• Initial Report: Disappearance reported to Burnaby RCMP on the evening of February 2, 2026, after concerns from neighbours.
• Location of Remains: Mr. Masjoody’s remains located in Mission, British Columbia on March 6, 2026.
• Investigative Command: Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) with support from:
  • Burnaby RCMP
  • Mission RCMP
  • Integrated Police Dog Services (IPDS)
  • Integrated Emergency Response Team (IERT)
  • Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS)
  • Mission Search and Rescue
• Accused Individuals:
  • Mehdi Ahmadzadeh Razavi, 48, of Maple Ridge, B.C.
  • Arezou Soltani, 45, of North Vancouver, B.C.
• Charges Approved:
  • One count of first-degree murder against Mehdi Ahmadzadeh Razavi
  • One count of first-degree murder against Arezou Soltani
• Relationships: IHIT has confirmed that the victim and both accused were known to one another.
• Motive: The potential motive remains under active investigation and has not been publicly disclosed.
• Case Status: The matter is now before the courts; RCMP has indicated no further information will be released at this stage.

IHIT has acknowledged that this case has significantly affected the local Iranian community and has attracted considerable public attention. The approval of first-degree murder charges is described as a major step in a complex investigation that has unfolded over several weeks across multiple jurisdictions in British Columbia.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident highlights how quickly a welfare check or missing person report in a community like Burnaby can escalate into a serious homicide investigation involving multiple cities such as Maple Ridge, North Vancouver, and Mission. Even in areas that may be perceived as relatively stable or lower-risk—similar to communities documented in our Musqueam 4, British Columbia crime statistics and safety data—serious violent crime can and does occur. Community members play a crucial role by promptly reporting unusual behaviour, welfare concerns, or sudden changes in a neighbour’s routine, as happened in this case.

Homicide investigations are complex and can take weeks or months to fully develop. During that time, maintaining public trust, avoiding misinformation, and allowing the judicial process to unfold are all key to community safety. Residents in British Columbia are encouraged to stay engaged with official updates, support affected communities with compassion, and report any future suspicious activity to local police or anonymously through Crime Stoppers where available. Strong cooperation between the public and specialized police units—such as IHIT, forensic services, and search and rescue teams—remains one of the most effective tools in preventing and solving serious violent crime across the province, from major urban centres to smaller communities like those profiled in our Musqueam 2 crime and safety overview.

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Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the british-columbia community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.