Melanie O'Neill: SFU Professor Killed in Vancouver

Melanie Alexis O'Neill Found Dead in Her Home

Melanie Alexis O'Neill, an award-winning chemistry professor at Simon Frasier University, was found dead in her home in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant. The cause of O'Neill's death is not immediately known, and the Vancouver Police Department's press release did not describe the condition of her body.

Still, this is being called a homicide; Vancouver's ninth of the year. The RCMP detained and questioned a man in relation to Melanie O'Neill's death, though he was later released without charge.

From VPD Media Relations:

Vancouver Police have identified the victim of the city’s 9th homicide of 2011 as being 37 year old Melanie Alexis O’Neill of Vancouver.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m. on July 26th, Vancouver Police received a call to check on the welfare of a woman in the 100 block of W. 13th Avenue. Officers entered the residence after attending and getting no answer. They discovered the body of a deceased woman inside the residence.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine when Melanie O’Neill died and the cause of death. Melanie O’Neill was not previously known to police.

The male associate that was initially detained for questioning has been released from custody and charges have not been laid.

The investigation is continuing and anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the 100 block W. 13th between Tuesday, July 19th and Tuesday, July 26th is asked to contact the Vancouver Police Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.