Man Charged with Murder in Nanaimo Woman's Death

A man has been charged in connection with the death of a Nanaimo woman last fall, bringing a measure of closure to a case that had been investigated as a stranger homicide.

Cameron Compton faces charges of second-degree murder and indignity to human remains in the death of Sherry Shelley, 64. Shelley was reported missing on Nov. 14, 2025. In the early hours of that same day, Nanaimo RCMP officers responded to a report of a vehicle fire in a wooded area near the Highway 19 intersection, where they discovered Shelley deceased inside the vehicle.

The circumstances leading up to Shelley's death have not yet been released by police. The Nanaimo Serious Crime Unit had confirmed in December that they were investigating the case as a stranger homicide, indicating a lack of connection between the victim and the alleged perpetrator.

Compton, who has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2014, remains in custody. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected as the case progresses through the legal system.