A man from Chetwynd, B.C., appeared in provincial court on Tuesday, where he faced an elevated homicide charge. Kenneth Albert Wood, originally accused of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Carlene Engellend in Chetwynd last March, now confronts a first-degree murder charge.
First-degree murder, as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada, involves a planned and deliberate killing, often with premeditation. Wood participated in the court hearing via video from the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, where he is currently detained.
During a virtual court session on January 8, Wood was given the opportunity to select a trial by jury or judge only. However, the court adjourned to January 20 to allow the Crown to provide additional evidence disclosure for the defense’s review.
Engellend was discovered deceased on March 9, 2025, when emergency services responded to a medical emergency call. The RCMP initially deemed the death suspicious and assigned the major crimes unit to investigate. Wood was officially charged with second-degree murder in July 2025, according to previous court documents.
Chetwynd is situated in the Eastern Foothills of the Rocky Mountains, approximately 240 kilometers north of Prince George, B.C. For more news and stories from Northern B.C., you can explore additional content from that region.