Professor Sinikka Gay Elliott has been found dead, according to RCMP.
In a press release, Corporal Chris Manseau confirmed that the body of the UBC sociology professor was found just after 1 p.m. today.
Salt Spring Island RCMP had been searching for Elliott since Thursday after she left to run errands and didn’t return home. RCMP and search and rescue later found her vehicle on Juniper Place Road.
Police do not believe that criminality was involved in Elliott’s death, Manseau wrote in the statement. The BC Coroners Service is currently investigating the details surrounding her death.
Manseau also thanked the over 100 volunteers who helped in the search.
Elliott joined the department of sociology in 2017 and specialized in family, social inequality and social policy.
President Santa Ono, UBC’s faculty of sociology and other faculty members have shared their condolences on social media.
Professor Elliott was a much loved member of the UBC faculty. Several former students have reached out to me and told me how special she was in their lives. I send my condolences to all of her friends and family during this difficult time. https://t.co/48pM5OCbrK
— Santa J. Ono (@ubcprez) May 15, 2021
Dr. Guy Stecklov, the department head of sociology, wrote an obituary for Elliott that was posted on the faculty’s website.
“On behalf of all of us at the Department of Sociology, I offer my most sincere condolences to Sinikka’s family and friends. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time,” Stecklov wrote.