Following over three months of investigation, Columbia Valley RCMP assisted by the South East District Major Crimes Unit have made an arrest in relation to the death of Invermere resident Cory Jarock, who was found unresponsive on the driveway of a private Invermere residence on April 3, 2012.

Twenty-three-year old former Radium Hot Springs resident Brian Panebianco was arrested on Thursday, July 19 in Radium on unrelated drug charges and was subsequently charged with several offences relating to the death of Jarock, including assault, robbery, and breach of recognizance.

RCMP have not released the circumstances surrounding Jarock’s death.

“Right now, the investigation is ongoing with respect to the death,” RCMP corporal and senior media relations officer Dan Moskaluk told The Valley Echo. “Based on their investigation, led [RCMP] to support arresting [Panebianco] and charging him for what we have so far.”

Columbia Valley RCMP Staff Sgt. Marko Shehovac confirmed that Panebianco was well-known to police before the arrest and said that, to his knowledge, Jarock and Panebianco were not particularly familiar with each other before Jarock’s death.

Panebianco was presented to a Judicial Justice of the Peace bail hearing on July 20 and was remanded into custody until his next appearance in court in Invermere on July 25. At that time, the case was further pushed forward to be heard on September 11 in Golden, where the accused may potentially enter a plea or be sentenced at that time.