Victoria Police have provided an update in a shocking stabbing attack that occurred in Beacon Hill Park in 2014.

Shortly after midnight on Jan. 12, 2014, VicPD officers were called to the park for a report that a man had been stabbed several times. 

The assault was interrupted by two witnesses and the suspect ran away, police said. The victim was transported to hospital and survived the attack but remained there for an extended period with life-threatening injuries to his head, face, and chest. 

In 2014, detectives conducted an extensive investigation, which included the collection of DNA evidence and a public appeal with a sketch of the suspect. 

For years, investigators continued to seek information from the public to further the investigation and attempt to match the DNA gathered in 2014. 

In 2018, investigators completed a review of the historical investigation due to technological advances in DNA evidence collection. In October of that year, the DNA profile of the suspect was submitted to the United States to be checked with the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which was not available to them at the time of the attack.

The check resulted in a DNA match to Cowie, who was in the database following a criminal offense he committed in Wyoming. 

Investigators learned that following the 2014 stabbing, Cowie fled from Vancouver Island and made his way to Alberta, where he stole a Parks Canada vehicle. In the stolen vehicle, Cowie unlawfully crossed the USA border and was arrested by park rangers in Yellow Stone National Park. After his arrest in the USA, Cowie’s DNA was collected and submitted to CODIS. 

After using DNA to identify Cowie as a suspect, VicPD investigators located him in Brandon, Manitoba. In November of 2019, VicPD officers travelled to Manitoba where he was arrested and interviewed with the assistance of the Brandon Police Service. Cowie was subsequently charged with aggravated assault by BC Crown Counsel. 

On June 30, 2023, the accused, Paul Cowie, was found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder (NCRMD) by a BC provincial judge. 

Last month, almost a decade after the incident occurred, the BC Review Board ordered that Cowie be detained in a designated psychiatric hospital in BC, and that his disposition be reviewed in 12 months.  

“I’m incredibly proud of the effort and determination of our officers to identify the suspect in this investigation,” says VicPD Chief Del Manak. 

“Despite several years having passed since the incident, our officers remained focused on solving this file, and ultimately it was that prolonged effort, teamwork, and problem solving that led to the arrest. This is also a great demonstration of coordination across sections at VicPD as well as with agencies both nationally and internationally, and the remarkable power of DNA technology.”