Kelowna woman's death called suspicious by police

Kelowna RCMP continue to call the death of Babs Capozzi as "suspicious," although her former son-in-law said he understands that she was fatally stabbed.

Speaking to media outside the home of Babs Capozzi at 817 Young Rd. this morning, Horst Schwarzer said he had stopped by the house to see for himself what police were investigating and to check on the status of a family dog pet that lived in the house.

Police had detained Capozzi's son, Cameron, at the scene on Tuesday night but said no charges have been filed as of yet.

"We are still trying to determine what happened," said Kelowna RCMP Sgt. Anne Brinnen this morning.

Schwarzer alluded to problems that had existed in the past between Cameron and his mother, but he wouldn't elaborate.

"It's just very shocking," Schwarzer said about the demise of the elder Capozzi. "She was a lovely person and I was very shocked to hear…it's just devastating."

Brinnen would not confirm the cause of death or name of the victim, saying only the deceased was an adult female.

Asked about Cameron's status, Brinnen said he was taken into custody at the scene, after fire and ambulance crews originally responded to a 9-1-1 call made from the Young house by another family relative.

"It was not a sudden death (due to natural causes) but that's all we can say right now," Brinnen said.

RCMP forensic investigators arrived at the house this morning to conduct a crime scene investigation after obtaining a search warrant to do so.

The Capozzi family's pioneer roots in Kelowna extend back to the 1930s when Cap Capozzi started out as a farmer, then established a winery and began to develop land here, most notably the Capri Hotel and the Capri Centre Mall, the first shopping centre of its kind in western Canada when it was first developed.

Babs Capozzi was the first wife of Tom Capozzi, and they had four children together. Besides Cameron, there is Cascia, Caron and Colin.

Tom and Babs divorced, and Tom remarried Gail Plecash and they had two children, Lauren and Krista. He passed away in February 2004.

Online court records show that Cameron Capozzi was charged with one count each of assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats, in connection with an alleged incident on Dec. 5, 2007.

The court file also lists an application to forfeit the bail money.