deadmonton - the murdered and the missing in the metro area


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deadmonton 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | old case files | name index

Philipp Jochen Woehrle Yehai Hassan Al-Bekai Walter & Darla Dahmer Savanah Morin Dennis James Moyah
Homicide #7
Woehrle
Homicide #6
Al-Bekai
Walter & Darla
Dahmer
Homicide #5
Morin
Homicide #4
Moyah

Metro City Murder Meter

Edmonton's 2012 murder meter officially stands at 7
Case status: open: 5   charges laid: 2
Total metro area count stands at 9

Philipp Jochen Woehrle
may 8th, 2012 -- body pulled from house fire
Yehai Hassan Al-Bekai
may 6th, 2012 -- shot dead outside lounge
So Many Somalis
may 6th, 2012 -- new documentary released
Walter & Darla Dahmer
may 4th, 2012 -- found dead near Spruce Grove
Savanah Morin
may 3rd, 2012 -- charges laid
Dennis James Moyah
april 29th, 2012 -- manslaughter charge laid

Edmonton Metro Crime Watch
the latest in ongoing murder investigations, trials, missing person files, cold cases and other police matters

------------------------------------------------- other recent homicides and deaths --------------------------------------------------

Mill Creek Ravine Death Jeff Oatway Annette Margaret Holywhiteman Morgan Drew Arcand-Faithful Chad Swanson Keith Oliver
Mill Creek Ravine
Suspicious Death
Oatway Holywhiteman Arcand-Faithful Swanson Oliver

--------------------------------------------------- old case files added and updated ---------------------------------------------------

John Stanley Kwiatkowski Russell Haidar Myron Dakota Cutknife Ashneil Ajit Singh Shernell Sharon Pierre So Many Somalis
Kwiatkowski Russell Haidar Cutknife Singh Pierre So Many Somalis

John Stanley Kwiatkowski
april 23rd, 2012 -- new evidence released in April 2011 case
Russell Haidar
april 5th, 2012 -- third man charged in December 2011 case
Myron Dakota Cutknife
march 19th, 2012 -- mother makes appeal in March 2011 case
Ashneil Ajit Singh
march 15th, 2012 -- police seek new clue in November 2011 case
Shernell Sharon Pierre
march 7th, 2012 -- arrest made in 2008 case
So Many Somalis
The Last Link's exclusive list

---------------------------------------------------------- deadmonton index ----------------------------------------------------------

deadmonton 2012 | 2011 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | old case files
background | why Edmonton? | deadmonton main page archives
project KARE | sources and related web sites | deadmonton name index

Edmonton's 2011 murder counts officially rests at 48, breaking the city's previous record of 39 set in 2005.
There were 17 deaths in 2003, 28 in 2004, 36 in 2006, 33 in 2007, 35 in 2008,
while 2009 and 2010 both saw 27 murders.

All the information presented on this page has been compiled primarily from published media reports and should not
be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site.
The Last Link on the Left practices fair presentation and the disclosure of relevant interests.

Edmonton Metro Crime Watch

The latest in ongoing murder investigations, trials, missing person files, cold cases and other police matters (in order of most recent update).


Philipp Jochen Woehrle


Homicide detectives and arson units continue to investigate the death of 28-year-old Philipp Jochen Woehrle after his body was found inside a burning building.


At 7:22 a.m. Tuesday, May 8th, Edmonton Fire Rescue got a call about a house fire at 11707 129 Street in the Inglewood neighbourhood. After the fire was extinguished, responders discovered Woehrle's body in the basement » full details »


Edmonton recorded 20 homicides at this time last year. 2011's total hit a record-breaking 48 with the status of one suspicious death case still pending and a second case suspended.


Yehai Hassan Al-Bekai


Police continue to investigate Edmonton's sixth homicide of 2012 after 32-year-old Yehai Hassan Al-Bekai was shot outside the Diesel Ultra Lounge on Sunday, May 6th, following an altercation that had taken place inside.


Reports of shots fired brought emergency services to the bar across from Rexall Place at about 3:00 a.m. They arrived only to find out that Al-Bekai had already been taken by friends to hospital where he later died.


Police later launched an appeal for witnesses to come forward » full details »


So Many Somalis


A new documentary looks at the question of why so many Somali men have been murdered in Alberta and the root causes behind why the vast majority of their slayings remain unsolved.


Carleton University Master of Journalism candidate Felicia Pacentrilli has released Talking to the Dead, a 30-minute video that reveals the frustration many of the Somali victim's families feel when it comes to the issue being treated properly, accusing police of turning a blind eye and media of painting an inacurate picture » full details »


Walter & Darla Dahmer


Spruce Grove/Stony Plain RCMP investigated the suspicious deaths of two people whose bodies were found inside a rural residence on Friday, May 4th.


At about 2:00 p.m., police were called to a residence about 15 kilometres southeast of Spruce Grove, after a person reported finding the bodies of a deceased man and woman.


A week later, RCMP had yet to update the case. However, the Edmonton Journal identified the victims, quoting friends as saying the deaths were likely the result of a murder-suicide » full details »


Savanah Morin


Police have laid charges man in connection with Edmonton's fifth homicide of 2012 after 20-year-old Savanah Morin died following an altercation in a downtown highrise.


Police were dispatched to the 165-unit Wimbledown Apartments building at 10140 113 Street at about 2:45 a.m. Thursday, May 3rd, after a 911 call had come in reporting that a woman had been stabbed.


Morin had been found in a 15th-floor suite and was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where she was pronounced dead.


On Friday, May 4th, 23-year-old Dale Warren Swampy was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public » full details »


Dennis James Moyah


Police have laid a charge of manslaughter in connection with Edmonton's fourth homicide of 2012.


At about 4:00 a.m., Sunday, April 29th, officers responded to the Strathearn Heights Apartments complex after 34-year-old Dennis James Moyah had suffered serious injuries as the result of a beating. He later died in hospital.


Police took a male suspect into custody at the scene. They later charged 26-year-old Brian Leonard Sawatzky with manslaughter » full details »


Meanwhile, police are still dealing with a suspicious death from earlier in the weekend – see next story ...


Mill Creek Ravine Death


Police continue to investigate the suspicious death of an unidentified 18-year-old woman in Edmonton's river valley park system.


Just after 3:00 p.m. Friday, April 27th, two mountain bikers came across the body of the unconscious woman in the Mill Creek Ravine underneath the Whyte Avenue bridge. She was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.


An autopsy confirmed the woman's identity but not her cause of death » full details »


John Stanley Kwiatkowski


At about 6:23 a.m. April 14th, 2011, EMS were called to a home in Rundle Heights after a woman found her common-law husband dead. It was figured 29-year-old John Stanley Kwiatkowski had been attacked during a break-in and robbery.


On April 23rd, 2012, police released images of stolen vehicles believed to be linked to Kwiatkowski's homicide » full details »


Jeff Oatway


On April 11th, 2012, 34-year-old Jeff Oatway had been arrested in connection with a traffic accident and was placed in a cell at Edmonton police headquarters.


Eight hours later, as he was being transported to a bail hearing, Oatway and police got into a scuffle and a Taser was deployed. Oatway collapsed and after two days in a coma he died.


The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is investigating the matter » full details »


Annette Margaret Holywhiteman


Annette Holywhiteman, also known as Annette Goodrider, was last seen alive in Edmonton on August 25th, 2008. According to Project KARE, the woman had registered with the task force in 2004 when she was believed to be involved in the sex trade.


In November 2010, RCMP investigated the discovery of skeletal remains in a remote area northwest of Westlock. In March 2012, it was confirmed the human remains were those of Holywhiteman.


On April 12th, 2012, Project KARE investigators appealed to the public for information » full details »


Russell Haidar


On December 14th, 2011, a late-night rendezvous in a west-end park left 17-year-old Russell Haidar dead from gunshots wounds. Within days, two persons had been charged with second-degree murder.


On April 5th, 2012, police announced they had charged a third man in connection with Haidar's death – also with second-degree murder » full details »


Morgan Drew Arcand-Faithful


RCMP continue to investigate the death of 20-year-old Morgan Drew Arcand-Faithful, an Alexander First Nation man.


At about 11:05 p.m. Wednesday evening, April 4th, RCMP responded to a report of a fight in Morinville, a capital region bedroom community 30 kilometres north of Edmonton. Arcand-Faithful was found suffering what police termed a "visible wound" and died at the scene.


RCMP soon charged a 21-year-old Morinville man with second-degree murder » full details »


Chad Swanson


Police continue to investigate Edmonton's third homicide of 2012 after a man was found dead in an SUV in the city's north end Thursday evening, March 29th.


Two pedestrians walking within a cul-de-sac near 113th Street and 167A Avenue noticed a black Chevy Tahoe that looked like it had been parked in a hurry. When they looked inside they saw Chad Swanson behind the wheel suffering "obvious trauma" to his body.


The 26-year-old was due in court the day after he died to face drug charges » full details »


Myron Dakota Cutknife


Spruce Grove/Stony Plain RCMP were called to a home on the Enoch First Nation Reserve southwest of Edmonton early March 19th, 2011, after the body of a deceased male was found outside. An autopsy determined 20-year-old Myron Dakota Cutknife died of homicide.


No suspects were identified and a year later, with no new developments in the case, Cutknife's still-grieving mother made an appeal to the public » full details »


Keith Oliver


Fifty-seven-year-old Keith Oliver was found face down in an alley between 97th and 101st Streets, south of 118th Avenue, on March 4th, 2012. He died in hospital ten days later having suffered major head trauma and multiple broken ribs.


After friends of Oliver informed media that investigators weren't doing enough to find out what happened to him, Edmonton police launched an appeal for information » full details »


Ashneil Ajit Singh


On November 29th, 2011, police located 21-year-old Ashneil Ajit Singh dying in a field on Edmonton's southwestern edge.


On March 15th, 2012, homicide detectives asked for the public's assistance in locating a white iPad 2 that they believe was purchased by Singh about a month before he died » full details »


Shernell Sharon Pierre


On March 12th, 2008, Edmonton Fire Rescue were dealing with a car fire when they discovered the charred remains of 26-year-old Shernell Sharon Pierre lying slumped in the driver's seat. An autopsy determined she had suffered a gunshot wound to the head before being set on fire.


On March 7th, 2012, police announced that they had charged Pierre's former boyfriend, 43-year-old Devon Hugh Saunders, with first-degree murder » full details »


Billy Canh Ho


Police continue to investigate Edmonton's second homicide of 2012 after 25-year-old Billy Canh Ho was stabbed during an altercation near a south side McDonald's restaurant.


A 911 call at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 6th, brought EMS and police to the 24-hour eatery at 10375 51 Avenue just west of Calgary Trail. Ho died in hospital and police put out a strange call to anyone who may have sold an individual a container of gasoline » full details »


So Many Somalis


CBC image

When reporting Somali-Canadian deaths, media often refer to the number of young men slain in Alberta as ranging anywhere from 20 to three dozen.


The Last Link's So Many Somalis page serves as a comprehensive list of men with roots in Somalia and the Horn of Africa to have lost their lives while working and living in Alberta » full details »



Visit the Last Link deadmonton archives, the deadmonton name index or the deadmonton site map for previous entries. You can also check our tweets on twitter.


For more about murder cases that took place in specific years, visit:

deadmonton 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | old case files


For more about specific crime areas in Edmonton, read about the Inglewood neighbourhood and how problems persist on the Avenue of Nations.



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POLICE LINE: DO NOT CROSS

Background


Edmonton's murder rate is a major concern to area residents and experts in the field are baffled as to explain why the city is home to such a high number of homicides.


The nature of Edmonton's energy-related boomtown economy plays a significant role in the city's crime statistics. Good times often attract a transient population, and with the area's metro population surpassing the million mark the provincial capital is no longer the sleepy frontier town it once was.


Second-generation immigrants make up a large percentage of Edmonton's inhabitants and the drug and gang lifestyle, along with youth-against-youth incidents, is thought largely responsible for the high murder rate.


To find out more about the reasons behind Statistics Canada's one-time dubbing of the city as "the murder capital of Canada," visit the Why Edmonton? page.


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POLICE LINE: DO NOT CROSS

Sources


Every effort possible is used to maintain the accuracy of information cited on the pages of this site and numerous sources are used to collect news of homicides and police-related matters.


A full list of sources used to compile the entries on this website can be found on the deadmonton - sources and related web sites page.


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Those with information about any of the matters covered above are asked to contact Edmonton police at 780-423-4567, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), Project KARE at 780-495-KARE (5273) or 1-877-412-KARE (5273) or online at www.tipsubmit.com. Tips can also be text messaged.


Information presented on this page has been compiled from published media reports and should not be interpreted as having legal bearing or other prejudice against the individuals named on this web site. Some information may have been released under the authority of the FOIP Act, RSA 2000, C. F-25. and/or Section 8(2)(m) of the Federal Privacy Act.


Members of the public are advised that the intent of this web site is to enable citizens to take suitable precautionary measures and is NOT intended to encourage people to engage in any form of vigilante action. Continued investigation and review can result in additional information or clarification not disclosed to the public. Case status subject to change without notice.