A friend of the ‘Virgin River’ actress was aware of the ‘big trouble’ the morning of the disappearance
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A best friend of Stewart McLean – the “Virgin River” actor who was found dead days after he was reported missing – knew something was wrong the morning of the actor’s disappearance.
In a new interview with The Canadian Press, Jeff Seymour – acting coach – opened up about that gut feeling he had after McLean didn’t show up for the day.
“He was meticulous about everything, and there was no way he was going to blow it or stay up late. When I heard he didn’t come Saturday morning, I knew there was a big problem,” Seymour told the media.
POLICE are reporting the disappearance of ‘VIRGIN RIVER’ actor STEWART MCLEAN.
The missing persons investigation into Stewart McLean has turned into a homicide investigation, according to police. (Lions Bay Search and Rescue/Facebook)
“It doesn’t make sense. He was incredibly self-aware,” he added. “I raised it because all my life, I don’t know how someone can get a drop [Stewart].”
Seymour, who had been in a relationship with McLean for eight years, said her friend was loved by many and had no bad blood with anyone.
“Everybody loved this guy, it’s not like he was doing bad things or you know, he ran with the other crowd. I mean he was lonely,” he told the outlet. “He spent a lot of time studying and at his home over there in Squamish.”
“It’s just scary,” he continued. “I would like to see justice done.”
On May 18, McLean was reported missing and the Squamish RCMP launched a missing people investigation the next day. According to a press release, McLean, 45, was last seen in Lions Bay on May 15.
Rossif Sutherland and Stew McLean in “Murder in a Small Town.” (Kailey Schwerman / ©Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection)
I Squamish Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in British Columbia issued a press release on Thursday saying that investigators have found evidence that led them to believe that McLean is the victim of a murder.
“The Squamish RCMP began an investigation and, through investigative efforts, found evidence that led investigators to believe that Mr. McLean was the victim of a homicide,” said a press release.
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The statement continued, “On May 20, the IHIT (Integrated Homicide Investigation Team) was deployed and took over the investigation. The Squamish RCMP continues to work closely with the IHIT and the Integrated Forensic Identification Service (IFIS) to continue the investigation.”
On Friday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team shared a statement CBC Newsstating that McLean’s remains had been found and identified.
Stew McLean as Hank Riddle in “The Irrational.” (Sergei Bachlakov/NBC via Getty Images)
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“As the investigation continues, homicide detectives are working to collect and analyze evidence, review CCTV footage and conduct interviews to create a timeline of Mr. McLean’s actions prior to May 15, 2026,” the report said.
McLean has appeared in popular series including “Virgin River” for Netflix “Arrow,” “Happy Face,” and “Murder in a Small Town.”
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In addition to acting, McLean has worked behind the scenes as a producer on projects such as “Travelers” and “Beyond.” His career has featured dramatic and action-oriented roles, which have earned him recognition in the Canadian entertainment industry.
Janelle Ash of Fox News Digital contributed to this post.
