Ryan Jenkins, 32, has been charged with murder in the death of Jasmine Fiore, 28. (Buena Park Police Department/CBC)

Police in California warn that a former Calgarian, wanted for his ex-wife's killing and believed to be on the run in Canada, may be armed with a handgun.

Ryan Jenkins, 32, faces one count of murder in the death of Jasmine Fiore, prosecutors in Orange County confirmed on Thursday afternoon. They're recommending bail of $10 million US once Jenkins is apprehended, according to court documents.

Law enforcement officials had initially wanted to question him as a "person of interest" after Fiore's body was discovered on the weekend, but an arrest warrant was issued for Jenkins on Thursday.

Jenkins, a former realtor and investment banker, is believed to be in Canada after his black BMW X5 SUV and empty boat trailer were found at a marina in Blaine, Wash. on Wednesday.

Sgt. Kevin Mede of the Whatcom County sheriff's office said they then received a report that a man matching Jenkins's description and "acting suspiciously" arrived by boat at Point Roberts, a rural community near the Canadian border just south of Vancouver.

Police believe Jenkins walked from there across the border to British Columbia.

Point Roberts is a peninsula that extends south of the Canada-U.S. border, but is not connected by land with the rest of the U.S. It shares a relatively unguarded and forested border with the B.C. community of Tsawwassen.

A manhunt using border protection helicopters and U.S. marshals failed to turn up Jenkins, Mede said. Police ground, air and canine units in Delta, B.C. also helped in the search.

'No stone unturned'

"There will be no stone unturned and we will look under every rock for him," said Chief Insp. Thomas J. Hession of the U.S. Marshals office regional fugitive team.

'Ryan Jenkins is an animal .... Please understand who you're helping leave this country.'— Robert Hasman, victim's friend

"He needs to be understand he's now officially wanted, that we don't stop looking for him."

Hession warned that anyone helping Jenkins could be charged with aiding and abetting, and harbouring a fugitive.

"I would suggest to anyone out there looking to assist this individual that they don't because they would be subject to being charged also."

Robert Hasman, a former boyfriend of Jasmine Fiore, speaks to media in Buena Park, Calif. on Thursday, as Fiore's mother, centre, looks on. (CBC)

Investigators believe Jenkins is armed with a handgun and warned the public to be careful if encountering him.

Message to suspect's family

Robert Hasman, Fiore's ex-boyfriend, sent a public message to Jenkins's family and to "the friends that are helping him try to leave this country."

"Ryan Jenkins is an animal. What he has done to Jasmine is unspeakable. And it's just not right and I appreciate your help," Hasman said at a news conference, as Fiore's mother stood by.

"Please understand who you're helping leave this country and we ask for your support to bring Ryan to custody."

Jenkins's father, Dan, is a real estate developer in Calgary and there are reports that Jenkins's mother lives in Vancouver. Police would only say that any involvement from Jenkins's friends or family is considered part of their investigation.

Body was mutilated

Buena Park police detectives released new information about Fiore's death at that same news conference.

Lt. Steve Holliday confirmed that Fiore's fingers and teeth had been removed. The public revelation brought sobs from Fiore's mother.

"We had to tell the family today a lot of the information also without it getting into the press and public [first]," Holliday said.

Jasmine Fiore's naked body was found in a suitcase and left in a Dumpster near a California apartment building. (CBC)

Fiore, 28, was found naked and stuffed into a suitcase in a Buena Park trash bin by a man looking for recyclable materials on Saturday. Police believe she was strangled.

"Jasmine was a beautiful person. She was a very caring individual," Hasman said. "A lot of the information you're seeing on the news is not true." However, he did not elaborate on what he meant.

The former model was last seen with Jenkins at a poker game in San Diego on Friday night. Jenkins reported Fiore missing to the police on Saturday evening.

Jenkins had moved to L.A. from Calgary to be a contestant on the VH1 reality TV show Megan Wants a Millionaire. Fiore, a commercial and swimsuit model, had recently relocated to L.A. from Las Vegas.

Fiore's mother said the two were married two days after meeting in Las Vegas in March, but the marriage was annulled two months later. They reconciled, but Jenkins was charged in April with domestic battery of Fiore in Nevada. That case had not gone to trial.

In 2005, Jenkins pleaded guilty in Calgary to common assault of a former girlfriend.

Point Roberts — marked with a red pointer — is a peninsula that extends south of the Canada-U.S. border, sharing a relatively unguarded and forested border with the B.C. community of Tsawwassen. (Google Maps)