A former reality TV contestant wanted in the brutal murder of his ex-wife has been found dead, the RCMP said Sunday evening, ending an intense manhunt that spanned both sides of the border.

Ryan Jenkins' body was found in a motel room in Hope, B.C., which is about 100 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. Police say the death is the result of an apparent suicide.

"At this time, the investigation into the circumstances of his death is continuing, but preliminary evidence suggests that he took his own life," said RCMP Sgt. Duncan Pound in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, sources told CTV's Alberta Bureau Chief Janet Dirks that Jenkins, a former real estate developer, hanged himself in his motel room.

Jenkins, 32, had been charged by U.S. authorities with first-degree murder in the death Jasmine Fiore, a 28-year-old former swimsuit model.

Fiore's mutilated body was discovered last weekend stuffed into a suitcase in a Los Angeles-area dumpster.

Investigators on both sides of the border had asked for assistance from the public in their search for Jenkins, who is suspected of strangling Fiore and reporting her missing the evening of Aug. 15, then fleeing.

Police suspected that Jenkins had likely sneaked back into his home country by car, boat and on foot.

Police didn't say how long Jenkins' body had been in the motel room. There had also been a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Jenkins and Fiore met in Las Vegas in March and married soon afterwards.

Fiore's mother said her daughter had the marriage annulled, but no court documents have been found to prove that claim. The couple, who had a rocky relationship, had reportedly reconciled recently.

Disturbing details

Fiore's body was discovered in Buena Park, a city about 32 kilometres southeast of Los Angeles. Her teeth and fingers had been removed, apparently in an effort to keep authorities from identifying her.

Investigators used the serial numbers on her breast implants to identify Fiore, said Farrah Emami, a spokesperson for the Orange County district attorney's office.

Fiore was a model who worked in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, working gigs such as being bodypainted at parties.

Jenkins had been a contestant on VH1's recent reality show "Megan Wants a Millionaire," which the network cancelled on Friday.

In Calgary, Jenkins' former fiancee Paulina Chmielecka said she never saw a violent side of him.

"The guy was a great guy, as far as I knew he was very happy," she told CTV. "In our relationship, we had our fights -- everyone does -- but I would never say, 'Well, he could have murdered someone.' There's no way."