CLEARWATER, B.C. -- An RCMP sergeant probing the murders of six family members in British Columbia says a television re-enactment of their final days should provide a powerful investigative tool.
Filming began Monday in Clearwater, B.C., for the Global-TV 'Citizen's Alert' program.
The half-hour drama to be aired May 13 centers on the unsolved murders in August of Bob and Jackie Johnson, their two daughters and Mrs. Johnson's parents, Edith and George Bentley.
'It is a big investigative tool for us and we hope to get a lot of mileage out of it,' said RCMP Sgt. Mike Eastham, who is assisting in the filming. 'We will be showing it to as many people as we can.'
He said actors were chosen by their ages and looks to ensure as close a resemblance as possible. Global will provide the RCMP with a copy of the program.
Eastham said the actual killings will not be shown in the program, or the burning of the Johnsons' car with the six bodies inside.
The filming takes place in Kelowna, where the Johnsons lived, and Wells Grey Park campgrounds, where police believe they were murdered.
The Johnsons, with daughters Janet, 13, and Karen, 11, were to meet the Bentleys, of Port Coquitlam, B.C., on Aug. 8 to camp and go berry-picking. Johnson was expected back to work Aug. 16. He was reported missing Aug. 23 by a co-worker.
The original front license plate from Johnson's car salvaged from the burned wreck, and other items like Mrs. Bentley's knitting and her husband's tin can art are being used in the filming.
