Remains of Nicole Bell missing since 2017, found in BC, Family’s eight year nightmare ends in tragedy

Nearly eight years after she vanished, the remains discovered on a rural property near Salmon Arm on May 5 have been confirmed as those of Nicole Crystal Bell, a 31‑year‑old mother of three who went missing from Sicamous in September 2017.

From the moment Bell disappeared, investigators with the BC RCMP's Southeast Major Crime Unit believed foul play was involved.

More complications to the case

The case became interwoven with a disturbing pattern: five women disappeared across the North Okanagan–Shuswap region during 2016 and 2017. While each disappearance has been treated individually, authorities link Bell’s death to the same suspect in the killing of 18‑year‑old Traci Genereaux, whose remains were recovered from the Sagmoen family farm in October 2017.

The suspect, Curtis Sagmoen, died in a Vernon motel in April 2025. Despite his death, the Southeast District Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate both cases, stating that "additional parties to the offence have not yet been ruled out".

Bell’s mother, Jane Aubertin, offered a poignant response after the grim identification. Thanking volunteers, investigators, and the individual who reported the remains, she wrote:

“We are grateful to be able to bring Nicole home. RIP. Love you always.”
She also acknowledged the ongoing pain, reflecting that even with Sagmoen’s death, “there is no closure for the families,”.

For community members like Nichole Fleming, a friend and volunteer searcher, the discovery stirs a mix of sorrow and resolve. Fleming noted that the remains were found near the Sagmoen property in Silver Creek, close to where Bell had been sought for years. She and others continue pressing for answers, hoping the identification of Bell may unlock clues in the cases of still‑missing women, including Caitlin Potts and Deanna Wertz.


RCMP ask anyone with information to contact the Southeast District Major Crimes Unit.